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books_n_bugs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readwithchlo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
laurabb's review against another edition
challenging
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
WTF was this? A weird, obnoxious little novel about an insane family and the village they live in. It took me almost until the end to "get" the feel of this thing, and at under 200 pages, that shouldn't be the case. Truly bizarre.
tedgraham's review
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
siria's review against another edition
dark
3.25
The most "what the fuck did I just read?" book that I've come across in a while. Imagine a bunch of comic grotesques from a Jane Austen novel who've gone feral and are set to wander through an English village in the 1910s that's got more than a bit of a Gormenghast vibe to it. Terrible things happen there, all of which Barbara Comyns recounts with deadpan dark humour.
Tonally, this is a kind of dreamily alienated, amoral comedy of manners. This makes it a page-turner, but also ultimately I think reduces Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead's overall power. There isn't much depth or heft to it. It's acidic without having actual bite.
Tonally, this is a kind of dreamily alienated, amoral comedy of manners. This makes it a page-turner, but also ultimately I think reduces Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead's overall power. There isn't much depth or heft to it. It's acidic without having actual bite.
kindwordsgoodbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
kingofspain93's review against another edition
4.0
this belongs in the same sinister literary corner as The Sundial or Picnic at Hanging Rock. while it tends to stray closer to Jackson’s sense of the macabre it has none of her insufferable whiny bitterness, and though it treats its central phenomena coolly it doesn’t have the universal mystery of Davis’ book. they’re kin, each showing sorrow, cruelty, and human relationships in slightly different qualities of light. Comyns is smart and interesting. she reads like a feminist. the girlies are always telling stories about mass hysteria; what’s up with that?
canadiantiquarian's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The best stumbled-upon discovery I’ve had in years.
A darkly comic exploration of life and struggle that follows a family in a small British town after a particularly extreme flood. Instead of styling the tale with veneers of theme like hope, beauty, or evolution, Comyns lets it all exist as-is — life relentlessly moving forward without overarching intention.
A darkly comic exploration of life and struggle that follows a family in a small British town after a particularly extreme flood. Instead of styling the tale with veneers of theme like hope, beauty, or evolution, Comyns lets it all exist as-is — life relentlessly moving forward without overarching intention.