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monsieur_tunin's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lehete92's review
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
adrianasturalvarez's review
reflective
relaxing
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? No
3.5
3 1/2 stars. A very gentle novel. A polite novel. The kind of quiet, soft spoken novel that features a main character who fixes hot chocolates for his girlfriend. Who says very clean and polite things and likes lovely books and lovely landscapes. A character who doesn't feel very comfortable dealing with sex and who has probably never uttered a curse word his entire life. Honestly, I was disgusted. Halfway through the novel and I just wanted him to do a line of coke and fuck his new girlfriend.
We are never privilege to know the reasons behind the main character's big secret. That aspect of the protagonist certainly made him more vulnerable but only in a superficial way. Everything else goes splendidly for him so there aren't very many stakes other than the whim of his imagination. I think this is why I couldn't really connect to this novel of very sparse and simple prose (not a bad thing in and of itself).
This is the second novel by Poulin I've read and I get that he working within a very particular mood. The trouble for me is that I found this particular expression of conservatism off putting. I didn't admire the protagonist, nor feel pity for him. I found him annoying after awhile and I was absolutely not sympathetic to his plight, whatever its cause.
All of that said, I wouldn't be surprised if a person told me they loved this. I wouldn't disparage them either. It is gentle and kind and soft, like a very fuzzy sweater with rounded shoulders and long sleeves that go a little over the hands. This whole novel is like someone wearing that sweater early in the morning while standing in a doorway holding a cup of cocoa and watching the sunrise. A little too close to an Instagram post for me but maybe I've just gotten cynical.
We are never privilege to know the reasons behind the main character's big secret. That aspect of the protagonist certainly made him more vulnerable but only in a superficial way. Everything else goes splendidly for him so there aren't very many stakes other than the whim of his imagination. I think this is why I couldn't really connect to this novel of very sparse and simple prose (not a bad thing in and of itself).
This is the second novel by Poulin I've read and I get that he working within a very particular mood. The trouble for me is that I found this particular expression of conservatism off putting. I didn't admire the protagonist, nor feel pity for him. I found him annoying after awhile and I was absolutely not sympathetic to his plight, whatever its cause.
All of that said, I wouldn't be surprised if a person told me they loved this. I wouldn't disparage them either. It is gentle and kind and soft, like a very fuzzy sweater with rounded shoulders and long sleeves that go a little over the hands. This whole novel is like someone wearing that sweater early in the morning while standing in a doorway holding a cup of cocoa and watching the sunrise. A little too close to an Instagram post for me but maybe I've just gotten cynical.
alexander_'s review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
dadoodoflow's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Restrained and hushed, a beautifully written book. Surprising in the dark corners that peep out from behind the surface gentleness. It’s not a sad book, there’s enough light to Pierce the fog of melancholy. Also, a book of a place. If I was visiting this region of Canada I’d bring this along as a guide. An excellent find, highly recommended. The perfect curl up by the fire book.
stephpercival's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
An utterly charming little book. A love story which is in itself a love letter to books, Quebec City, and the Saint Laurence.
bent's review against another edition
2.0
A short, very slow novel. The Driver meets a woman and contemplates suicide, while driving through the small villages of Quebec. There's more to it than that, but that's what it boils down to. Didn't do much for me and I found it hard to get through, despite how short it is. I did find the library network interesting.
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