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katiereitzel's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
libraryofdreaming's review against another edition
1.0
I wish I didn't feel the need to write this review, since even now thinking about The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender makes me feel unsettled, but I feel like I can't let it go before I have put it to rest in this way. First off, I would like to point out something that I REALLY wish someone had told me before I read this book:
WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS RAPE, VIOLENCE, GORE, ANIMAL DEATH/GORE, AND DISTURBING THEMES
If I had known what was contained in this book, I never would have touched it, much less put myself through reading it. Yes, some of the writing was beautiful. The first chapter made me sigh with its fairy tale imagery, but I was quickly disallusioned that this was a peaceful YA fantasy by its encroaching darkness. By the time I reached the last page I was emotional, disturbed, and felt contaminated just from reading about some of the horrible things in this book. I wanted a beautiful fairy tale, I got an incredibly disturbing novel instead. It was pretty well written for the most part, but even then I felt like too much time was spent on Ava's relations, she barely gets any character development before all hell breaks loose. A lot of the secondary characters and their stories confused me and I wonder why the author included them. I expected some of the horrific things that happen to Ava, but I was NOT expecting rape and one of the most disturbing villains I've had the misfortunate to read about in a long time. His habits, violence, and sexual perversion left a burning imprint on my mind that I dearly wish I could bleach away. The confrontational scene was obviously well written in that I felt like I was right there, but why did it have to be so completely horrific?? Good writing is one thing, good content is another. Along with the rape and animal gore, I did not expect the weird religious creepiness that happened here. I don't understand a lot of what went on or why the author chose to go with that angle but it disturbed me even more. Nothing was left sacred in this book.
*spoilers*At the end, I was positive that Ava had committed suicide and practically threw the book away from me in despair. After thinking about it, I realized Ava had written the introduction in her old age so she couldn't have died in the end. Why couldn't the author give us some closure there? The last scene had some great imagery, but it was also really weird too. *spoilers end*
In hindsight, I can see some slight glimpses of beauty and hope in this book, but nothing that could possibly make up for the disturbing content and the sick feeling I was left with after I finished this book.
WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS RAPE, VIOLENCE, GORE, ANIMAL DEATH/GORE, AND DISTURBING THEMES
If I had known what was contained in this book, I never would have touched it, much less put myself through reading it. Yes, some of the writing was beautiful. The first chapter made me sigh with its fairy tale imagery, but I was quickly disallusioned that this was a peaceful YA fantasy by its encroaching darkness. By the time I reached the last page I was emotional, disturbed, and felt contaminated just from reading about some of the horrible things in this book. I wanted a beautiful fairy tale, I got an incredibly disturbing novel instead. It was pretty well written for the most part, but even then I felt like too much time was spent on Ava's relations, she barely gets any character development before all hell breaks loose. A lot of the secondary characters and their stories confused me and I wonder why the author included them. I expected some of the horrific things that happen to Ava, but I was NOT expecting rape and one of the most disturbing villains I've had the misfortunate to read about in a long time. His habits, violence, and sexual perversion left a burning imprint on my mind that I dearly wish I could bleach away. The confrontational scene was obviously well written in that I felt like I was right there, but why did it have to be so completely horrific?? Good writing is one thing, good content is another. Along with the rape and animal gore, I did not expect the weird religious creepiness that happened here. I don't understand a lot of what went on or why the author chose to go with that angle but it disturbed me even more. Nothing was left sacred in this book.
*spoilers*At the end, I was positive that Ava had committed suicide and practically threw the book away from me in despair. After thinking about it, I realized Ava had written the introduction in her old age so she couldn't have died in the end. Why couldn't the author give us some closure there? The last scene had some great imagery, but it was also really weird too. *spoilers end*
In hindsight, I can see some slight glimpses of beauty and hope in this book, but nothing that could possibly make up for the disturbing content and the sick feeling I was left with after I finished this book.
foxtr0t_'s review against another edition
Very interesting style of writing but it was too weird for me I suppose.
I loved how whimsical it was.
I loved how whimsical it was.
jenna_renna_wren's review against another edition
4.0
...wow. 4.3925, if that is a possible rating. I loved this and relished in the ending. The plot was unique and completely engaging, and I found it to have the perfect touch of mystery. It felt very real and not all dressed up like most books (to make everything seem all perfect),encapsulating true human nature and the heartbreak that accompanies our existence. The only reason it isn’t a 4.5 or 5 in my mind is because I felt that Ava Lavender, who was meant to be the main character, felt just like a side character representing a halfhearted narrator. By the end of the book I was still unsatisfied by her involvement in everything. It was lovely how it went through the early family in such detail, but then it got to Ava more than halfway through the book and time seemed to speed up so I felt well introduced to her mother and grandmother but unaware of her personality. Overall, the originality of this book kept me glued to the pages and I would read this again. In my heart, it would be a 5 simply because I don’t think I could ever find such a gem of a book ever again.
lilo23's review against another edition
2.0
Unpopular opinion: I didn’t like this. This book was just strange but I liked the ending tho.
eponineeurydice's review against another edition
4.0
This book is heartbreaking, beautiful, important and luminous. It follows a slightly magical and powerfully bonded family, kinda like Encanto. Some of the amazing themes explored in this book are love in all its forms, loss, feminism and neurodivergence. It is slightly mystical but also very real-hence, I guess, why it's labeled as magical realism. Do be aware of the TWs, most of all s*xual assault, as it is quite a dark read at times, and especially at a certain point towards the end. But I think it paints a much-needed picture of strong women, of which there is quite a lack of in YA. The only thing keeping me from rating it 5 stars was the ending, which was pretty open and vague, so if you don't like those... still read it but just be aware of that. It was just so authentic, so evocative and lyrical. I really really enjoyed it.
bookmarksandespressoshots's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
faeriesparks's review against another edition
4.0
This book was just what the title implies - very, very strange but at the same time so beautiful. AND HEARTBREAKING!
I really enjoyed the whimsical writing and the way this story was told. The entire book is told from Ava's POV but we start with her grandmother growing up, then her mother and then get to Ava.
A lot of times I actually had no idea what was happening but I didn't mind at all.
I really enjoyed the whimsical writing and the way this story was told. The entire book is told from Ava's POV but we start with her grandmother growing up, then her mother and then get to Ava.
A lot of times I actually had no idea what was happening but I didn't mind at all.
rachd24's review
3.0
3.5/5* Review.
I read this book as part of The Transatlantic Book Project - http://confessionsofabookgeek.com/2015/11/15/the-transatlantic-book-project/ - 10 bloggers, 2 books, 2 countries.
Magical realism isn't a genre I tend to gravitate towards. I either do contemporary, or full on fantasy, but rarely anything in between. Magical elements make sense to me in a fantasy setting, because they are supposed to be there, but magical realism doesn’t always work for me because the magical, and often downright odd, elements are inexplicable.
The first, and most obvious, thing to say about this book, is how amazed I am that this is Walton’s debut. Whether magical realism works for you or not, there is no denying that this is a beautifully written story. Spanning three generations of Roux women, I loved the historical element to the tale, and the back stories we get for each character. The novel is told with a somewhat whimsical and dream-like tone, reminiscent of an adult/modern fairy tale. While the story is character driven, there is plenty of plot, and the book never really drags at any point – it’s well paced and has an element of mystery throughout, which is intensified by some seriously ominous foreshadowing.
While this book could drown you, at times, in tragedy, unfairness and grief, it could also be quietly uplifting, reassuring and occasionally hopeful. My biggest concern is that our main character does suffer some traumatic circumstances, which were largely left unpunished, and that ultimately didn’t sit right with me.
Check out my full review:
http://confessionsofabookgeek.com/2015/12/09/review-the-strange-and-beautiful-sorrows-of-ava-lavender/
I read this book as part of The Transatlantic Book Project - http://confessionsofabookgeek.com/2015/11/15/the-transatlantic-book-project/ - 10 bloggers, 2 books, 2 countries.
Magical realism isn't a genre I tend to gravitate towards. I either do contemporary, or full on fantasy, but rarely anything in between. Magical elements make sense to me in a fantasy setting, because they are supposed to be there, but magical realism doesn’t always work for me because the magical, and often downright odd, elements are inexplicable.
The first, and most obvious, thing to say about this book, is how amazed I am that this is Walton’s debut. Whether magical realism works for you or not, there is no denying that this is a beautifully written story. Spanning three generations of Roux women, I loved the historical element to the tale, and the back stories we get for each character. The novel is told with a somewhat whimsical and dream-like tone, reminiscent of an adult/modern fairy tale. While the story is character driven, there is plenty of plot, and the book never really drags at any point – it’s well paced and has an element of mystery throughout, which is intensified by some seriously ominous foreshadowing.
While this book could drown you, at times, in tragedy, unfairness and grief, it could also be quietly uplifting, reassuring and occasionally hopeful. My biggest concern is that our main character does suffer some traumatic circumstances, which were largely left unpunished, and that ultimately didn’t sit right with me.
Check out my full review:
http://confessionsofabookgeek.com/2015/12/09/review-the-strange-and-beautiful-sorrows-of-ava-lavender/