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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
This is a bit untethered. It’s brilliant and fascinating at times, but it doesn’t give the reader much to hang on to, in terms of characters, plot, or even a clear idea of when or where anything is happening. My feeling is that the writer wants the reader to be a little off-balance all the time, not to assume or expect anything.
The central figure is a young girl who can immerse herself in water and travel through time, guided by a talking turtle, a whale, worms, and other natural figures, rescuing and helping people in different time periods. These range from the 19th century to a future date in which water has covered much of the habitable land, and people live in floating dwellings.
One of the recurring themes is the Statue of Liberty, with some chapters dealing with four working people who are building the statue, and others showing the statue underwater. The sculptor, Bartholdi, who created the statue, is featured in epistolary sections, with letters to and from his lover/cousin. There’s a fair amount of violent sex featured in the book, mainly between the two of them, and there are many passages extolling desire.
There are snakes. There are apples. Both show up as erotic symbols, with the apples involved in some disquieting sexual scenes. There are passages about the dysfunctional relationship we have with the earth, and the much healthier relationships that earthy creatures have with each other. There are also many lost and broken children in these pages.
You could call it a dystopian novel, although the watery world at the end seems more peaceful. The process of getting there, however, is full of human tragedies of various kinds. I’m glad to have read this highly experimental novel, but I don’t know if I want to take on another one by this author.
The central figure is a young girl who can immerse herself in water and travel through time, guided by a talking turtle, a whale, worms, and other natural figures, rescuing and helping people in different time periods. These range from the 19th century to a future date in which water has covered much of the habitable land, and people live in floating dwellings.
One of the recurring themes is the Statue of Liberty, with some chapters dealing with four working people who are building the statue, and others showing the statue underwater. The sculptor, Bartholdi, who created the statue, is featured in epistolary sections, with letters to and from his lover/cousin. There’s a fair amount of violent sex featured in the book, mainly between the two of them, and there are many passages extolling desire.
There are snakes. There are apples. Both show up as erotic symbols, with the apples involved in some disquieting sexual scenes. There are passages about the dysfunctional relationship we have with the earth, and the much healthier relationships that earthy creatures have with each other. There are also many lost and broken children in these pages.
You could call it a dystopian novel, although the watery world at the end seems more peaceful. The process of getting there, however, is full of human tragedies of various kinds. I’m glad to have read this highly experimental novel, but I don’t know if I want to take on another one by this author.
A meditation on time, the immigrant experience, love, loss, misunderstanding and, possibly hope. A unique and compelling braided narrative across generations along the flowing waters of time.
Q: 4
E: 4
I: 3
qxe + I = 19
Q: 4
E: 4
I: 3
qxe + I = 19
Wild and challenging, glorious and inspiring. This is one I know I’ll return to. One of the best results I’ve ever had impulse buying a book based exclusively on the cover, and I’ve honestly had a lot of success with that methodology.
This one was not for me. It started out ok but then it got increasingly obtuse. So many characters but not really spending enough time with them or drawn with enough detail to care. There was so much attention to the sentences that I had no connection to any of the plot. I hate to use the word pretentious, but that is what comes to mind.
Won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. It sounded very intriguing. The writing itself is beautiful, but I found the story very difficult to follow.
I heard Lidia Yuknavitch speak about fiction and speculative fiction at the National Book Festival in 2022. I knew, just from how she talked about stories, that I would love her writing.
I don't say this lightly...I think this is my new favorite book on the planet.
The writing makes me weak in the knees. It's so very, very good. I want to wade into every line and be carried away with the tides of the imagery, the imagination, and the truth of this book. Her character Laisvė carries objects across time, through water, to those who need them. But she also carries stories, and histories. Stories are like water, they flow between and through us and in us. They make up our bodies and delineate our homelands. Our bodies, histories, and stories are all at once so intimately personal and intimately shared.
I'll stop trying to explain. What Lidia Yuknavitch did in Thrust transcends anything I could possibly try to say about it. Just thrust yourself into the stream of her words and let it carry you along.
I don't say this lightly...I think this is my new favorite book on the planet.
The writing makes me weak in the knees. It's so very, very good. I want to wade into every line and be carried away with the tides of the imagery, the imagination, and the truth of this book. Her character Laisvė carries objects across time, through water, to those who need them. But she also carries stories, and histories. Stories are like water, they flow between and through us and in us. They make up our bodies and delineate our homelands. Our bodies, histories, and stories are all at once so intimately personal and intimately shared.
I'll stop trying to explain. What Lidia Yuknavitch did in Thrust transcends anything I could possibly try to say about it. Just thrust yourself into the stream of her words and let it carry you along.
Read this last week and can’t stop thinking about it. The world is changing rapidly. Pick this one up if you want your mind bent and your blood chilled and your heart ripped out.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
gorgeous prose and compelling characters even tho idek what was going on. fun time