Reviews

How to Be Both by Ali Smith

hivanoff's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

syafa's review against another edition

funny reflective 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? Yes

3.75

Kinda difficult to understand in the beginning, which mirrors the experience of the first person POV so it works. You get the hang of how to read it eventually but at the same time some sentences are half-finished and structured unconventionally which requires some focus when reading. Interesting themes though the writing usually makes you work to articulate your thoughts yourself vs giving you a pretty, punchy sentence. The first part (ironic given they're both "one") feels a lot less direct and since it's in a more unfamiliar setting to the reader, requires more thought work to understand. I think I preferred it to the second half though, a more interesting life because of its unfamiliarity. Funny in a sardonic kinda way (also ironic because that's how she's described in the book)

stephaniexpink's review against another edition

5.0

to love is to see, and to be loved is to be seen.

csgiansante's review against another edition

2.0

"art"

mrs_bonaventure's review

5.0

This book stunned me, bowled me over; partly of course because of its intricate, symmetrical and playful creativity, but more because I loved the narrative voices in both halves. I was captivated at once by being immersed in the moments of someone's life so vividly.
I read the modern section first and felt very close to the teenage girl protagonist; her life is drawn closely, minutely (and later on her main characteristic is described as "earnestness.") Then when the second half started I felt disorientated but was immediately swept into the 15thC. I was later surprised to read in the reviews that the book was printed randomly with each half in a different order and it made me wonder if my experience would have been very different reading the other way around. As it was I think it had a lot of poignancy through looking back in time and solving some of the unanswered questions of the first half.
All in all I felt nourished by this - food for the brain heart and soul!

hongjoongie's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Even as I thought it I felt white all over at the loss of my friend and thought that I'd never know other colours again.

There was a lot more world : cause roads that look set to take you in one direction will sometimes twist back on themselves without ever seeming anything other than straight. 

She was attentive, sweet to me. And there was something, some glimmer of something. She'd look at me and I'd know there was something real in it, and I liked it, I liked how she paid attention to me, my life. Like she personally cared how I was feeling from day to day or what I was doing from one hour to the next.

Enjoyed George’s section significantly more. I was confused most of the time and found myself skimming, but I’m gonna give this the benefit of the doubt and assume it’s doing something interesting even if I can’t understand it. 

eleanorgking's review

challenging informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

hommesansamis's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.25

arlothegooddinosaur's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.0

tophat8855's review against another edition

4.0

I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla and it is set up so that you experience George’s story first. I think I would have liked to listen to it the other way around, though. Definitely worth a read.