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antoman's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trollbeard's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
themaggiemch's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
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
2.0
This is not an easy book to classify. For instance, what genre is it? Other than literary fiction, I'm not sure. Is it historical? Maybe? It seemed to almost exist outside of time, in a way.
Similar to how I can't classify the genre of it, it's hard to really understand my thoughts on it. The best I can do, I suppose, is say that it just wasn't really my thing. It was very very slow-burn and I was pretty bored throughout. Though it's less than 200 pages, it felt twice that length.
I wanted to like it, and it seems most people did, but sadly I will remain in the minority.
Similar to how I can't classify the genre of it, it's hard to really understand my thoughts on it. The best I can do, I suppose, is say that it just wasn't really my thing. It was very very slow-burn and I was pretty bored throughout. Though it's less than 200 pages, it felt twice that length.
I wanted to like it, and it seems most people did, but sadly I will remain in the minority.
wolverinefactor's review against another edition
2.0
The idea is interesting but the writing style just killed it for me
farmv8's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a profound, thought provoking story discussing themes of morality, dehumanization, responses to stress and community. The reader can learn lessons from the narrator’s emotional detachment from his decisions as he recounts the events regarding the violent and strange behavior of 32 children.
leonidasm's review against another edition
5.0
Με μια γραφή που νιώθεις ότι παρακολουθείς ντοκυμαντέρ και εικόνες από κάμερες ασφαλείας, ο Barba, σε βάζει με χαρακτηριστική άνεση στο κλίμα. Ένα θρίλερ με 32 παιδιά που εμφανίζονται από το πουθενά στην πόλη, μιλάνε μια δική τους ακατάληπτη γλώσσα , τρυπώνουν στα μυαλά των " κανονικών παιδιών" και στοιχειώνουν τις συνειδήσεις των γονιών τους. Το τέλος το ξέρεις από την αρχή και αυτό αντί να αφαιρεί προσθέτει στην ατμόσφαιρα του βιβλίου. Το καταχαρηκα.
kiramke's review
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Stunning.
I meant to refer to my notes to write a review, but my notes consist of the line "Holy shit this is immediately amazing," followed by a whole bunch of adjectives and superlatives. So I guess here we go: Compelling, moody, enigmatic, uncanny, philosophical, eerie, careful, skillful, elusive, ...luminous?
A rich story that is more than anything a meditation on what and how we consider civilization.
snotboy's review against another edition
4.0
Barba writes of children to talk about human nature, in this weird, fable-like telling about children who made their own society and the way the people responded to it. The way it is was paced and told kept it in this air of mystery and reflection, not so much about action or happening, but reaction and the complicated ways we respond to life. I read this after such small hands, which i loved, and was pleased this novel has his same uncanny feeling.
smal_practice's review
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Barba's story about a group of feral children was interesting in concept, at times surprisingly funny but ultimately a bit of an effort to finish. But the unfurling of the mystery did make the effort worth jt.
In my read I was most interested in the exploration of the fear and love the main character had for the children in his life.
In my read I was most interested in the exploration of the fear and love the main character had for the children in his life.
suzanna_m's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5