Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.11 AVERAGE
3.11 AVERAGE
slow-paced
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
I was not a fan of the style of writing. I found it hard to follow and it jumped around in odd places. Slow and boring.
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I recognize that from a writing/prose stand point I was supposed to like this book. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Extremely well written. Hal Ebbott is great at putting very complex feelings and ideas into words that just make sense. This story moves slowly, is heavy and sad, but has an edge of satisfaction to it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
World building: realistic world building that isn’t clearly rendered beyond where the action takes place or when flashbacks are necessary - - - -
Characterizations: due to the prose being each character’s stream of consciousness, we get complex and beautifully rendered inner lives of each of the character, but their actions and what they say doesn’t reflect the inner life and perpetuates the shallow nature of these characters; the characters are nihilistically rendered, all of them unlikeable and confusing which leaves readers feeling detached and judgmental towards all of the characters; the change they undergo is purely because of plot, and even then, they largely remain the same people though relationships change drastically; female characters are rendered like the writer was being told how to render women by male feminists + + - - -
Plot: uses two families who have been long time families and the SA that happens between one father and the other’s daughter; serviceable and crass; meanders because of POVs that give nothing more than opinions on the plot instead of strengthening or serving it - - - - -
Pacing: meanders due to POVs; a weird mixture of breakneck pose and drawn out inner ramblings that make the pacing feel disconnected and careless - - - -
Themes: class differences, sexual assault and the variety of resulting responses, truth versus memory, truth versus logic, truth versus relationships, male friendships, marriage, jealousy’s effect on relationships, the inner life of resentment; all of the themes just float there, adding very little to conversations already being had; themes of class differences hinges on one character’s upbringing, so the message comes across as weak and forced - - - - -
Prose: beautiful writing with rich imagery; POVs that beautifully capture the inner lives of these characters, bringing them more to life than the plot can; a bit formulaic in that a lot of incredibly rich imagery is used with a ton of similes but is never expanded upon or becomes embedded in the characters and their inner life + + + + -
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated