Instruct: Classify a review into positive or negative sentiment.
Query: The Amateur Novel

First of all, this book was written on such an elementary level in its prose and format. There was absolutely NO character development. You see no discussion of how Pauline or how Michael and Pauline's marriage impacted their kids lives. Why didn't Karen marry, isn't it ironic or not that Sally (George's wife) is so much like Pauline. What was it exactly that led Lindy to leave? If Michael's second marriage was a dessert and the first one was a missed entree, what was the lesson?This book was so underdeveloped in every way. The reading level, the characters. I kept hanging on thinking that Anne Tyler would tie it all together in some fabulous way. It was pedestrian at best. If this book was written by a newcomer and a first time novelist, then fine. What a huge waste of my time.