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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I am pleased even though the ending felt abrupt and hollow and sad. This is probably how Anna feels, in the world as she continues to experience it, with difficult questions and sorrowful but sustaining memories of past-lives. Why did what happened happen? Will she ever know, as she matures? Is there a straight forward answer that we as analytical readers should know? I feel the uncertainties of change, the lonely and hollow feeling of love, loss, and truth, and the pains of human life and loss on earth. And ultimately, our lack of control as the world goes on and on and on, and we learn as we live and die many deaths in it. A story like this will live on in me the same way that life does, uncertain, not yet ended, and beautiful and sad all at once.
Nicely written but I'm not sure who the target audience is. There are references that fill out the story that I don't think younger audiences would get. And then the epilogue just left me with a huh?
I'm not usually the biggest fan of World War II literature, but oh man...this was one of the best things I'd read within that category. It was so beautiful and devastating, the fact that a found family can come apart just as easily as it comes together. The pain and suffering and hunger and all for what in a time like this? The use of various languages and ploys and plots in order to save themselves were creative, ingenuous, and just so, so incredible. Savit definitely knows what he's doing, and he certainly knows how to entrance his readers.
It's haunting and it's beautiful, and while you're reading this, you might just hear a clarinet playing softly in the wind.
Review cross-listed here!
It's haunting and it's beautiful, and while you're reading this, you might just hear a clarinet playing softly in the wind.
Review cross-listed here!
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
I got an ARC of this book from our school librarian.
I wanted to like this book. The setting was compelling and the cover was beautiful. But, I just couldn't connect. I'm not sure who this book is targeted to actually. It had a bit of a meandering plot and while the writing was beautiful it seemed to actually be more riddles than story. I might try again later for this one.
I wanted to like this book. The setting was compelling and the cover was beautiful. But, I just couldn't connect. I'm not sure who this book is targeted to actually. It had a bit of a meandering plot and while the writing was beautiful it seemed to actually be more riddles than story. I might try again later for this one.
I really enjoyed the first 85% but then everytuing went south and the ending left me empty and hollow. This book is beautifully written, Gavriel Savit is a genius and i will read and probably re read all his books. But this story felt half baked, a lot of loose strings. I wanted more of the Swallow man's story, because generally they just walked without any real purpose throughout europe, and suffered. I dont get it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol
This was quite a unique novel - the plot, the characters, the writing. It was one I couldn't wait to get back to.
A clear-five star book for me... until the end. I definitely didn't hate the ending, and I thought it was as well-written as the rest of the book - but I'm so particular and fussy about endings, and this one didn't quite do it for me as much as the rest of the book did.