Scan barcode
carlyque's review against another edition
3.0
wanted to like this more than I did...too cold for me--characters interesting, but does she have to kill off the woman in a rape scene?
caffee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
This is probably my favourite Sarah Hall, although they're all wonderful. This was a re-read and it won't be the last time, it is so moving, heart breaking and real.
klb72's review
3.0
I read this for book club and as is often the case with a book club book, it was not a page turner (when will we do a Monica McInerney??). But as is also often the case, it was a nourishing read, notwithstanding the off putting grimy components of the various plots. It centres on four characters, Giorgio, a painter in the 60s nearing the end of his life; Annette, a blind girl who has some lovely moments with Giorgia; Peter, who paints cliff faces and then gets stuck in one, also has a nice relationship with Giorgio; and Suze, an adult who's twin has just died. I think the themes centre on identity in trying circumstances but hard to really say (perhaps all will be revealed at book club).
One chapter ends with some nice thoughts on solitude. Loved p 16.
"Of all the conditions we experience, solitude is perhaps the most misunderstood. To choose it is regarded as irresponsible or a failure. To most it should be avoided, like an illness. Inside solitude people see the many compartments of unhappiness, like the comb of a pomegranate. To be emptied from the world, to be cast away and forgotten – is this what we fear most? So we must shake hands and pass money and hear talk of our families and our selves. We must move in and out of doors, press buttons for lifts….
But if is embraced solitude is the most joyful of commitments. In the grace of these quite rooms I know far better the taste of each day. How well I know life. I understand water in its glass…
I am not lonely, but receiving such a letter [from Peter] reminds me of the other souls in this world whom I might have liked to meet."
Ah Giorgio, loved him. Meanwhile Suze, what were you thinking???
One chapter ends with some nice thoughts on solitude. Loved p 16.
"Of all the conditions we experience, solitude is perhaps the most misunderstood. To choose it is regarded as irresponsible or a failure. To most it should be avoided, like an illness. Inside solitude people see the many compartments of unhappiness, like the comb of a pomegranate. To be emptied from the world, to be cast away and forgotten – is this what we fear most? So we must shake hands and pass money and hear talk of our families and our selves. We must move in and out of doors, press buttons for lifts….
But if is embraced solitude is the most joyful of commitments. In the grace of these quite rooms I know far better the taste of each day. How well I know life. I understand water in its glass…
I am not lonely, but receiving such a letter [from Peter] reminds me of the other souls in this world whom I might have liked to meet."
Ah Giorgio, loved him. Meanwhile Suze, what were you thinking???
leebs's review against another edition
2.0
Lovely writing and a compelling idea but I just couldn’t get into it for some reason. I gave up after I realised I had read a significant portion and had no idea what I had just read and the idea of re-reading it made me feel tired.
icequeen13's review against another edition
4.0
four souls float among
the world that contains them all
outside of time: life
jaxcote's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting, and sometimes an uncomfortable read. It took a while for me to get used to the structure - each chapter devoted to one of the 4 main characters, in an A/B/C/D, A/D/B/C, B/C/D/A format - and switching between them was difficult at first. It was a really in-depth exploration on how living affects art (three of the main characters were artists), and how art affects living. The passages on grief were particularly moving.
wrenmeister's review against another edition
3.0
This novel follows four different narrative strands which are cleverly woven together. Though I acknowledge that this is very well written and that a lot of the prose contains some beautiful images, I just didn't fall in love with it. I was interested in how they were connected and enjoyed letting that aspect unravel but there were several points where I thought if I never finished it I wouldn't really mind. Don't get me wrong, it was a good book, just for me, not a great one. A good holiday read.
joyxrm1's review against another edition
4.0
It was a little slow at the beginning, but the writing is so beautiful that I kept going. I am glad I did. The characters were big, full of life and human struggles. In the end, I felt like I had completed a 7 course meal at a 5 star restaurant...sated and a bit blessed.
flowerbob's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.0