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domicspinnwand's review against another edition
4.0
Hat ein bissle gedauert, bis ich reingekommen bin - vermutlich auch, weil ich vorher einen über 900seitigen Historienschinken gelesen habe und das war nu mal was ganz anderes. Interessantes Thema, das total un-chronologisch (gibt es das Wort?) erzählt wird. Bin mir nicht sicher, ob etwas "aufgeräumtere" Zeitebenen nicht mehr Ruhe hereingebracht hätten. Das Buch war eine Empfehlung in einem Blog - habe leider vergessen, in welchem - und ich habe mich gefreut, es in unserer Onleihe zu ergattern.
lucy0117's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kaekinney's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I didn't know what to expect from this book and I am so glad ...going into it not knowing what direction to take is the best way to read this book. Let it unfold. There will plenty of questions that it raises, and lots of things to look up when you are done reading.
lueb's review against another edition
Twist wasn't one I cared about and didn't see any point to keep going.
buttercupita's review
4.0
I marveled at the brilliant structure of this book, and was pulled right in to the eccentricity of the characters and plot. While it didn't sustain the momentum of the initial chapters, I found the story interesting to the end. Definitely would be great to re-read to get deeper understanding of the themes and structure, but my pile is large....
annacameron's review against another edition
2.0
I completely missed what the hype was around this book. I went in hoping good things, however, it was not the book for me.
I thought the relationships between the characters could have been developed much further, the science studies better explored or the protagonist’s relationship with her parents delved into. It felt like the book spread quite thin and didn’t do any of these things well enough for me.
Often archetypal characters were used as seen in Harlow, Ezra and Reg, which felt unoriginal and detracted from my enjoyment.
I would have liked the ethical dilemmas of the family’s situation explored more, or at least wrangled with. I felt like it was a surface level job.
Overall the book was a very easy read. The premise was promising, and I wanted to love it, but this wasn’t what I hoped it would be.
I thought the relationships between the characters could have been developed much further, the science studies better explored or the protagonist’s relationship with her parents delved into. It felt like the book spread quite thin and didn’t do any of these things well enough for me.
Often archetypal characters were used as seen in Harlow, Ezra and Reg, which felt unoriginal and detracted from my enjoyment.
I would have liked the ethical dilemmas of the family’s situation explored more, or at least wrangled with. I felt like it was a surface level job.
Overall the book was a very easy read. The premise was promising, and I wanted to love it, but this wasn’t what I hoped it would be.
velarhysand's review against another edition
5.0
It took me more than a month to finish this, not only because of finals biting at my ass, but also because the book itself contains a heavy topic that was hard to get through. If there is one genre in this world that could make me bring down to my knees and suck all my tears away, it would be animals. Anything involving animals. Now add 'cruelty' to that, you'd be pretty much torturing me.
I got this book during a sale. It was supposed to stay in my book box, rotting away all the pages, but then something compelled me to pluck it out and bring it with me during a 6-hour drive with my family. It was supposed to be "just a companion" so that when my main pick bores me, it'd be a back up read. Turns out, reading this book changed my life. I wish I was exaggerating, performing theatrics just to prove my point, but I'm not.
I'm a third year psychology student this next academic year. So far I've only learned about humans. Sure there weren't any graphic details about animal experiments yet, I am aware of the darker side of it. I pretty much avoid studies with animals because it only brings me to tears, which is kind of an irony because I love meats and fried chickens though it doesn't make me cry.
Anyway, this book was phenomenal. My first Karen Joy Fowler book and definitely not my last. I loved how Rosemary's inner monologues speaks to its readers—to me. I felt like it was mine as much as it was hers. Her family dynamics, the upbringings, all that she was subjected to. Then there were Fern and Lowell. Fern who I thought was human. I loved Fern. I loathed their father. 20th century psychologists are pretty hardcore, no? All in the name of science.
And then Lowell. Good brother, Lowell. When Fern was taken away, he sacrificed everything. He loved Fern so much that he gave up his dreams and sought to fight for animal rights. In return, people branded him as 'bad', proceeded to jail him, twisting the story and then painting him as a "terrorist". Right, that's what we are. Twisted humans in a twisted world we live in. It's only evil when it's hurting humans, but not when it comes to animals. I'd say, humans are crueler more than anything and anyone. We are cruel even to ourselves so I guess I can't say I'm surprised.
Fuck science. Go experiment on humans. They can consent and say if it's bad for them. Animals can't do that. Unless they can magically speak and give you their consent, then it's our problem to find other means of experimenting. Bye.
Bittersweet ending that made me cry so hard my mother thought somebody died. Figuratively speaking, my heart did.
I got this book during a sale. It was supposed to stay in my book box, rotting away all the pages, but then something compelled me to pluck it out and bring it with me during a 6-hour drive with my family. It was supposed to be "just a companion" so that when my main pick bores me, it'd be a back up read. Turns out, reading this book changed my life. I wish I was exaggerating, performing theatrics just to prove my point, but I'm not.
I'm a third year psychology student this next academic year. So far I've only learned about humans. Sure there weren't any graphic details about animal experiments yet, I am aware of the darker side of it. I pretty much avoid studies with animals because it only brings me to tears, which is kind of an irony because I love meats and fried chickens though it doesn't make me cry.
Anyway, this book was phenomenal. My first Karen Joy Fowler book and definitely not my last. I loved how Rosemary's inner monologues speaks to its readers—to me. I felt like it was mine as much as it was hers. Her family dynamics, the upbringings, all that she was subjected to. Then there were Fern and Lowell. Fern who I thought was human. I loved Fern. I loathed their father. 20th century psychologists are pretty hardcore, no? All in the name of science.
And then Lowell. Good brother, Lowell. When Fern was taken away, he sacrificed everything. He loved Fern so much that he gave up his dreams and sought to fight for animal rights. In return, people branded him as 'bad', proceeded to jail him, twisting the story and then painting him as a "terrorist". Right, that's what we are. Twisted humans in a twisted world we live in. It's only evil when it's hurting humans, but not when it comes to animals. I'd say, humans are crueler more than anything and anyone. We are cruel even to ourselves so I guess I can't say I'm surprised.
Fuck science. Go experiment on humans. They can consent and say if it's bad for them. Animals can't do that. Unless they can magically speak and give you their consent, then it's our problem to find other means of experimenting. Bye.
Bittersweet ending that made me cry so hard my mother thought somebody died. Figuratively speaking, my heart did.
I didn't know what she was thinking or feeling. Her body had become unfamiliar to me. And yet, at the very same time, I recognized everything about her. My sister, Fern. In the whole wide world, my only red poker chip. As if I were looking in a mirror.
alsybarclay's review against another edition
1.0
I wanted to like it, but I found the characters essentially unlikable. After the initial reveal, I lost interest a bit. I'm really not sure why this has been so heavily raved about/recommended.
pluginsteadman's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
amyisabookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0