Reviews

A Luminous Republic by Andrés Barba

jero_02's review against another edition

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5.0

Una especie de reverso de "El señor de las moscas".
Preciso, magnético y perturbador.

larissag's review

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4.0

9/10! i really enjoyed the writing and how weird it was. very jarring and i want to reread this in a few months and see what i missed.

noelia_gsg's review against another edition

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1.0

La novela consiste en la narración de una persona sobre un hecho que vivió hace 20 años. Faltan diálogos y la línea temporal es inconclusa (mezcla hechos del pasado con hechos del presente, eso hace que no sepas diferenciar los tiempos)

booksnpunks's review against another edition

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3.0

A really interesting concept for a horror and I found it really well written and constructed. It almost played on the gothic in how it was a retrospective tale told from a man’s point of view about his dead wife and then reveals the deep and haunting secrets of an old town. I felt as though stylistically it was fantastic but in terms of enjoyment I never really got hooked and it took me a while to finish it despite it being so short. I reminded me a lot of the Turn of the Screw in how my experience analysing the book was a lot better than reading it, and I feel like this one is exactly the same especially with some of the overlapping gothic themes. The horror in it was really subtle and I can’t get over how well the creepiness was done through the form of the narrative alone. I would recommend this if you’re looking for a new and unique Spanish gothic novel but bare in mind that I don’t think it’s super captivating but rather needs to be experienced for its dedication to the genre.

lblythes's review

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5.0

A quietly eerie book that delicately peels apart layers of childhood. A modern, Southern America, study of violence and children left to their own communities which was very deeply and profoundly written. A masterpiece!

_b_a_l_'s review

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4.0

A strange and lilting story that is a feeling more than a narrative.

pearloz's review

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5.0

Just a stunning, unforgettable novel told, almost journalistically, from the point of view of a man who experienced/witnessed the events. The events are these: a small, child army arrives just outside town and begin to beg and sometimes harass the inhabitants. Local children are drawn to the gang and eventually start to run away. I don’t want to give away too much here...but the novel does begin with the acknowledgment that many children died. Despite this early revelation, the journey is enthralling and insistent.

rachmuss's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

annasbookishbrew's review

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1.0

Die Geschichte las sich wie eine Zeitzeugen Aussage ohne richtiges Ende, ohne Conclusion. Das Buch ist kurz und trotzdem fühlte es sich ewig an. Das Buch hätte locker um die Hälfte gekürzt werden können.

charlotte_lechair's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0