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brunogcarr's review against another edition
2.0
Imaginemos que alguém decide fazer um cozinhado. Uma cataplana de marisco, por exemplo. Encontra uma belíssima receita e não poupa nos ingredientes: o melhor camarão, vários tipos de bivalves frescos, tudo cuidadosamente escolhido. Depois, confiante nas escolhas que fez, opta por juntar tudo numa taça ao mesmo tempo e envolver preguiçosamente durante uns segundos, antes de levar ao microondas por uns minutos. Ficou a saber a marisco, mas...
enzopilarta's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Short but powerful. I love how the form, the little vignettes, painted a full picture and gave the prose so much texture and tension.
kebmonty's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
courtney23's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-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
5.0
chelssargeant's review
challenging
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
threewomen's review against another edition
2.0
Ehh idk maybe this wasn’t for me. Someone from tiktok explained the plot in a way that sounds like there was gonna be a twist ending so I went into it with that mindset. I think the writing is beautiful, but not something I planned on or wanted to read atm.
justinkhchen's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
Well-intended but reads like a dull essay rather than an engaging story, Assembly is an authentic overview of contemporary British society, through the eyes of a middle-class Black woman. Focus heavily on societal commentary, the novella touches on topics such as sexism, racism, and the inherited aristocratic values. While I appreciate some of the artistic choices, such as the intentional fragmentation and mixing of literary format, the sterile, depersonalized writing style keeps readers at arm's length, never fully involved emotionally with the protagonist's circumstance. Overall Assembly succeeds as a comprehensive record of an experience belonging to an often under-represented individual, but unfortunately I can't say it's anything close to a compelling read.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Well-intended but reads like a dull essay rather than an engaging story, Assembly is an authentic overview of contemporary British society, through the eyes of a middle-class Black woman. Focus heavily on societal commentary, the novella touches on topics such as sexism, racism, and the inherited aristocratic values. While I appreciate some of the artistic choices, such as the intentional fragmentation and mixing of literary format, the sterile, depersonalized writing style keeps readers at arm's length, never fully involved emotionally with the protagonist's circumstance. Overall Assembly succeeds as a comprehensive record of an experience belonging to an often under-represented individual, but unfortunately I can't say it's anything close to a compelling read.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
buggirl48's review against another edition
5.0
The definition of a tiny but oh my god level mighty book is Assembly, and I don't think there's much contest. In 100 or so pages we follow a British black woman who seems to have so much going for her. She's made a name for herself in the firm she works for, has a loving boyfriend and in her eyes views herself as successful, but even with all that going for her she contemplates throwing it all away. A breathtaking debut from Brown that on the surface is a quick literary/contemporary fiction read, but its so much more. Its a look at the history of race and colonialism in Britain, centuries upon centuries of heinous crimes and activity, and how they still present themselves today, some in blatant ways and others in daily microaggressions that many don't see a problem with. There's so many books about race: fiction, nonfiction, memoir, essay collection, poetry, it's all been written and its necessary, but this is the one that stuck with me the most. How Brown tackles this ginormous and multi leveled issue in this tiny neat little book that will make you say "holy s**t" when you finish the last sentence. MY personal pick for what should've been at least a Booker longlist title, it's eye opening, anxiety inducing at times, addicting to read and leaves you thinking about so much more than what you started the book with.