Reviews

I kind of just stumbled across this as an audiobook on the Libby app by Overdrive through my local library. I read the synopsis and thought I would take a chance as it sounded like the sort of thing that I might enjoy whilst doing house work. Well, I am certainly glad I took that chance!

This novel is packing serious storytelling ability and centering issues with such ease that it doesn't feel like "issues", but the mess of life. But it isn't the mess of life is it? And Gunty uses the voices of the female characters to show their intellect, insight and critique the system and society they inhabit, all whilst facing atrocious male violence, with such deft.

A brilliant feminist novel and I am excited for more from Gunty. Also, big respect for her being involved with the narration of the audiobook, it was brilliantly done!

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susie_m's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Is the mark of a good book that you carry it round in the hope that you can find a few minutes to read a few more pages? Or is it that you have to stop and look up from the page to relieve the tension or simply work out what’s going on? This book fits in the second category for me. It seemed to be a mix of stories based on the lives of the people living in the same building and dealing with their own diverse struggles, but generally not really aware of the lives of their neighbours. Some of these stories were too long and wordy, others connected to the overall picture more successfully, but mostly I felt they were either unnecessary or conversely not enough was made of them. The writing was compelling and unexpected in part but this felt like too many ideas for one book leading to a very loose drive towards the heavily signposted denouement.

bookgal1510's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

lobinha's review against another edition

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4.0

Livro 62/104

O CONTRÁRIO DO NADA

Tess Gunty

416 páginas

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

PARA REFLECTIR

Um romance de estreia que ganhou o National Book Award.

Um livro que nos fala de vidas (vazias) e os problemas inerentes a essas vidas!!

A autora explora a fundo a complexidade humana de uma forma brilhante, cativante, não conseguimos parar de ler.

Algumas partes são divertidas... outras são tão perturbadoras que nos tocam no mais fundo que há em nós

Um livro com temas muito fortes, como a doença mental, a pobreza, a sexualidade, a religião, o consumo de drogas, o racismo, entre muitos outros.

Um livro para refletirmos no sentido da vida,

É um livro "estranho" , muito complexo, meio esotérico... por isso não será um livro para todos, mas é um livro que marca, ensina e enriquece a quem o lê.

Livro 📚 : o contrário do nada

editora : alfaguara

autora : tess gunty

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

kylemurphy's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad tense 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? No

3.25

katygalloway's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

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