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toloveabook's review against another edition
4.0
"Though we longed not to be lonely, we also feared the pain it would take us to be brought out of our lonely states. And after that fear, could we be guaranteed that we would never be returned to a state of loneliness again? We could not."
Edward Carey has become one of my favourite authors. I love his writing style, his unique characters, his recurring themes of loneliness, alienation, human connection, and memory.
This book was amazing - one of the reviews on the cover says that it's funny, sad, and provocative, which it is. The characters aren't likeable. They are flawed, and sometimes in extreme ways. Like Francis - who steals people's prized possessions and feels no remorse for doing so, and gets a wax figure made of his love interest, among other strange endeavours. These are probably meant to be metaphors for less strange things that human beings often do, but they certainly don't paint Francis in a positive light. Still, we see how Francis is struggling. He wants to protect his uneventful life and keep the past where it belongs. He wants never to take off his white gloves and come into contact with another human being. Objects, in Francis' mind, are simply easier to love. But objects cannot love you back.
A big theme in this book is memory. When characters in the book begin to remember their pasts, they become sad, yes, but also more alive and active. They are called back into the present. And Francis fears this because it is so much easier and less painful to live a still and quiet life. Such a life is predictable, constant. This is why Francis admires objects and their stillness.
I enjoyed the plot but I felt like it moved very fast. I doubt I will remember much of this book in a few weeks time, which is a shame. This wasn't my favourite thing I've read from Carey, but it was still so powerful, and I think I could get even more out of it upon reread.
Edward Carey has become one of my favourite authors. I love his writing style, his unique characters, his recurring themes of loneliness, alienation, human connection, and memory.
This book was amazing - one of the reviews on the cover says that it's funny, sad, and provocative, which it is. The characters aren't likeable. They are flawed, and sometimes in extreme ways. Like Francis - who steals people's prized possessions and feels no remorse for doing so, and gets a wax figure made of his love interest, among other strange endeavours. These are probably meant to be metaphors for less strange things that human beings often do, but they certainly don't paint Francis in a positive light. Still, we see how Francis is struggling. He wants to protect his uneventful life and keep the past where it belongs. He wants never to take off his white gloves and come into contact with another human being. Objects, in Francis' mind, are simply easier to love. But objects cannot love you back.
A big theme in this book is memory. When characters in the book begin to remember their pasts, they become sad, yes, but also more alive and active. They are called back into the present. And Francis fears this because it is so much easier and less painful to live a still and quiet life. Such a life is predictable, constant. This is why Francis admires objects and their stillness.
I enjoyed the plot but I felt like it moved very fast. I doubt I will remember much of this book in a few weeks time, which is a shame. This wasn't my favourite thing I've read from Carey, but it was still so powerful, and I think I could get even more out of it upon reread.
kelsea's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Rape
toadsoup's review against another edition
5.0
I have never felt more seen than when I read this book
sunnybopeep's review
4.75
Truly a unique book with excellent storytelling. I was so impressed with how thoughtfully it was pieced together. Gloomy with a modern gothic atmosphere. The style and lack of plot progression makes it a little hard to get into at the beginning. If you can get past the first 1/4th, you’re really in for a treat.
It has similar vibes to A Series of Unfortunate Events or even something by Tim Burton.
It has similar vibes to A Series of Unfortunate Events or even something by Tim Burton.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Animal cruelty
sarahjjs's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a beautiful sad novel. It is so beautiful and to think it was a first novel. The author wrote the screen play to The Pigeon so that is a pretty good idea of what sort of genre/novel it is. I'm so impressed by it.
casskrug's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars? loved the characters and the premise but the writing style made it hard for me to get into
giantarms's review against another edition
4.0
Gat dahm this book isn't on my "read" list which is a crime crime crime. I read this summovagun in the long ago and have thought about it roughly monthly ever since.
Clearly I need to read it again so I can tell you why.
Clearly I need to read it again so I can tell you why.
rebeccavalley's review against another edition
4.0
A weird little book about life and love from the perspective of a handful of people who are dreadfully dreadfully bad at both of those things.
margot_meanders's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, what a book. A pleasure to read, the delivery is very absorbing. The writer has created a strange but magnificent microcosm where objects are important and time suspended for protagonists, residents of an old mansion.
There's a house with many apartments, a house that has seen years of history, that was once a rich house but then transformed into a tenement. In it live several characters whose fates are interconnected in strange ways. Time is suspended for them, they lead a sort of enchanted life in denial from their past.
At the heart of it is Francis. Francis wears white gloves, steals various objects for a personal collection and is an ex-employee of a wax figure museum, priding himself on the art of inner and outer stillness. The writer has drawn on his experiences and the fascinating story of Madame Tussauds.
The residents lead this half-dead life until a new resident threatens their status quo. With Anna, time is once again set in motion and characters woken from their stagnation, a breath of humanity pushes them out of their doll-like existence. They are forced to face their past and time returns to its normal flow. Their pasts are intrinsically connected and conveyed by objects- objects that Francis collects.
At the heart of it is the mansion and Francis' parents, they are central to revealing the full picture. The characters, whose stories unfold little by little, are all very troubled with deep scars, pathological almost. They have built barriers around themselves. As their stories and stories of the objects unfold,we discover how everything is related and intertwined, and it leads us to the deepest, secret corner of the mansion and the saddest corner of Francis' own heart. Why does he wear gloves? Why is there a woman pretending to be a dog? What happened to Francis' dad? Who is the porter?
This is a wonderful, bizarre, grotesque tale of pain and loss, with a touch of mystery, a fascinating microcosm of stories. It's delightfully whimsical and surreal and mesmerises you into its world from the start. And it has a heart in the end..and hope, a ray of sunshine. I really love how it was written, the strangeness of it all but in the end warmth shines through barriers. But...Opening up requires courage, it means taking off gloves and getting dirty, leaving the heart fragile. I like it. Very unique.
There's a house with many apartments, a house that has seen years of history, that was once a rich house but then transformed into a tenement. In it live several characters whose fates are interconnected in strange ways. Time is suspended for them, they lead a sort of enchanted life in denial from their past.
At the heart of it is Francis. Francis wears white gloves, steals various objects for a personal collection and is an ex-employee of a wax figure museum, priding himself on the art of inner and outer stillness. The writer has drawn on his experiences and the fascinating story of Madame Tussauds.
The residents lead this half-dead life until a new resident threatens their status quo. With Anna, time is once again set in motion and characters woken from their stagnation, a breath of humanity pushes them out of their doll-like existence. They are forced to face their past and time returns to its normal flow. Their pasts are intrinsically connected and conveyed by objects- objects that Francis collects.
At the heart of it is the mansion and Francis' parents, they are central to revealing the full picture. The characters, whose stories unfold little by little, are all very troubled with deep scars, pathological almost. They have built barriers around themselves. As their stories and stories of the objects unfold,we discover how everything is related and intertwined, and it leads us to the deepest, secret corner of the mansion and the saddest corner of Francis' own heart. Why does he wear gloves? Why is there a woman pretending to be a dog? What happened to Francis' dad? Who is the porter?
This is a wonderful, bizarre, grotesque tale of pain and loss, with a touch of mystery, a fascinating microcosm of stories. It's delightfully whimsical and surreal and mesmerises you into its world from the start. And it has a heart in the end..and hope, a ray of sunshine. I really love how it was written, the strangeness of it all but in the end warmth shines through barriers. But...Opening up requires courage, it means taking off gloves and getting dirty, leaving the heart fragile. I like it. Very unique.