Is this novel's ambition overshadowing its emotional core?

[Lily.D]

I just finished that sprawling literary novel that's been winning all the awards, and while I admired the ambitious prose and intricate structure, I found myself emotionally detached from the large cast of characters, whose philosophical musings often overshadowed their personal journeys. The final hundred pages felt like a deliberate unraveling that, while technically brilliant, left me more intellectually impressed than moved. For others who have read it, did you connect with the characters on a deeper level, or do you think the novel's primary strength lies in its stylistic and thematic ambition rather than its emotional core, and how does that balance affect its lasting impact for you?

[RileyTW]

I get that. Some sprawling award-winners land more as craft showcases than as emotional journeys. It’s totally valid to walk away admiring the architecture but not feeling the characters tug at you.

[Sophia.L]

For me, the emotional payoff often hinges on small scenes between a couple of core figures who anchor the bigger ideas. The big cast can feel distant until you notice those quiet moments. The book can be more about questions than about people, and that’s not a flaw so much as a different aim.

[Paisley.J]

The book's strength, IMO, is its architecture—how it threads philosophical questions, social critique, and a chorus of voices. Emotion can emerge from micro-interactions and from watching how the plot refracts a central dilemma. The ending's unraveling might feel abrupt, but many readers find it thematically coherent after a reread. The lasting impact, for me, comes from motifs and questions that stick with you, not one 'big moment.'

[Jonathan.S]

I can see the other side: I found one central arc surprisingly moving, and the surrounding cast acts as a foil that deepens that journey. If you felt distant, maybe the author was testing whether we can empathize with a protagonist when the world is crowded with ideas. Ambition can pay off for readers who value character nuance and the 'why' behind actions, not just outcomes.

[Stephen16]

What's the book? If you want, share a couple of scenes you found standout or underwhelming, and we can unpack what the author is doing—and whether the emotional throughline is hiding in plain sight or requires a second read.