Scan barcode
tayoreads's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
grapereads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I found this book a very interesting study of humanity and conversation. Although I found the first person narrative a little difficult at times, it served the realism well as it felt as though you were a person, trapped in a mind and a body, yet experiencing these conversations in the outside world. I think because of this, although there were enlightening moments of truth and insight, it was all dulled slightly through the many mouths it passed through. Or perhaps this is what made the stories so much richer? I don't know. It was different, and I liked it, but not to the extent of many that I know who revere it.
foxwars's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
fruitcollecti0n's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ottoyvgi's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
readwithbell's review against another edition
5.0
Her writing is .. something else. It feels like she’s casually showing off her grasp on the language and her understanding of the human emotions. Just casually. And I bloody loved it.
mihu_'s review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
boring but has some bangers here and there
ruqaiyareadstoo's review against another edition
3.0
I can definitely see why Cusk’s writing is adored but for me this was a case of choosing the wrong book as an introduction to this author’s writing. Outline felt sluggish but lacked any payoff at the end…
shimmery's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, I think. I’m not sure how I feel about this book. In theory it’s exactly the kind of thing I enjoy — well written, and about a writer meeting a variety of different people and talking with them as she teaches a creative writing course in Athens. I loved the scenes that showed the heat and life of the city. I wish there was more of that life in it.
The many conversations were insightful and yet there’s something very sombre about the book. Many sad revelations about people’s inability to please one another in relationships. It’s relatively humourless, with just one or two amusing moments. And since all the conversations are told through the point of view of the narrator, many of them blur in to one with the characters not really coming through in their speech.
As more intelligent reviews have pointed out, we discover only an outline of the narrator through her conversations with others — so I suppose this blurring is sort of the point.
There’s nothing wrong with the book, and maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood to read it. Maybe this isn’t the kind of book for people who have never been married and don’t want to have the illusion so shattered. I found I wanted a little more generosity with the characters, but as many are only fleeting there isn’t really time for that.
Maybe I’d have a different review if I read it at another time when life wasn’t so bleak...
The many conversations were insightful and yet there’s something very sombre about the book. Many sad revelations about people’s inability to please one another in relationships. It’s relatively humourless, with just one or two amusing moments. And since all the conversations are told through the point of view of the narrator, many of them blur in to one with the characters not really coming through in their speech.
As more intelligent reviews have pointed out, we discover only an outline of the narrator through her conversations with others — so I suppose this blurring is sort of the point.
There’s nothing wrong with the book, and maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood to read it. Maybe this isn’t the kind of book for people who have never been married and don’t want to have the illusion so shattered. I found I wanted a little more generosity with the characters, but as many are only fleeting there isn’t really time for that.
Maybe I’d have a different review if I read it at another time when life wasn’t so bleak...