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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
peripetia's review against another edition
I do not care about the story or the characters or anything. This is written in such a dry, almost academic way that it's just off-putting and boring. Probably the audiobook narrator didn't help.
The protagonist just recounts a story that could be very interesting but he's just stating facts or referencing source material. I'm giving up at ~25%. It's a short book but I just hate it.
(I also found myself thinking is it just me or is this racist, which is not a good sign. Maybe it isn't and I just disliked how the protagonist talked about the local people, including his wife.)
The protagonist just recounts a story that could be very interesting but he's just stating facts or referencing source material. I'm giving up at ~25%. It's a short book but I just hate it.
(I also found myself thinking is it just me or is this racist, which is not a good sign. Maybe it isn't and I just disliked how the protagonist talked about the local people, including his wife.)
medzik's review against another edition
5.0
Coś wspaniałego, nie mogłam się oderwać ... I ten moment, gdy w tekście doszłam do fragmentu, który tak pięknie połączył treść książki z okładką (tu także brawo dla Marty Konarzewskiej za okładkę!!!) ... Oniemiałam!!!