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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Rating real: 3.5
Me gustó muchísimo poder adentrarme en la visión de los adultos desde la perspectiva de Claudia. Reconocer que, dentro su inocencia, los niños perciben todo, a veces de forma distorsionada.
El papel de las mujeres en la historia fueron bastante dolorosos.
Lo que no me gustó fueron las transiciones, eran muy cortas. Y el final tampoco me llenó. Lo sentí hueco y no tan profundo como debería ser.
Quizás tenia las expectativas muy altas por ser un Premio Alfaguara.
Me gustó muchísimo poder adentrarme en la visión de los adultos desde la perspectiva de Claudia. Reconocer que, dentro su inocencia, los niños perciben todo, a veces de forma distorsionada.
El papel de las mujeres en la historia fueron bastante dolorosos.
Lo que no me gustó fueron las transiciones, eran muy cortas. Y el final tampoco me llenó. Lo sentí hueco y no tan profundo como debería ser.
Quizás tenia las expectativas muy altas por ser un Premio Alfaguara.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Set in Colombia in the 1980s, this short novel focussed on a young girl, Claudia, and how she tries to make sense of her family's dynamics: The happy memories, their interactions with people in their small circle, the rifts and of course as the title indicates, the abysses.
The central part of the abyss was brilliantly worked out, both in the literal and more metaphorical sense!
I felt so bad for Claudia who has to deal with a mother who does not care enough and more serious issues as the novella continues.
I got to read this work of fiction in Spanish, the original langauge
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
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Thank you to NetGalley and World Editions for approving this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
An evocative novel about the weight of adulthood as seen through a child’s eyes.
"Abyss", translated from "Los Abismos", is set in Cali, Colombia, where young Claudia lives with her family in an apartment full of plants that she calls "the jungle". She lives an ordinary life that is upended when her 50-something aunt gets married in secret to a man decades younger, who immediately takes to Claudia's mother.
Claudia's genealogy is marked by women who married very young to much older men to have their children. As she begins to become aware of the grim realities of the adults around her, Claudia realizes that, for many women, the abyss might be the only other option.
I really enjoyed this subtle exploration of gender roles and expectations, plus the descriptions were so vivid, I felt I was there.
However, the story being narrated from 8-year-old Claudia's POV didn't feel entirely convincing to me. It wasn't a child's voice or a child's perspective (which would be really hard to convey in a digestible way!), and I wonder if it wouldn't have been better to narrate it as older Claudia looking back (which is what I thought was going to happen at the beginning).
I was also missing a true ending; I felt like the story left me hanging, not just in terms of plot but also thematically. It just ended.
This was a quick and engaging read, though, so I would still recommend it to anyone interested in the theme - as long as you don't expect a plot resolution of any kind.
Thank you to NetGalley and World Editions for approving this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
An evocative novel about the weight of adulthood as seen through a child’s eyes.
"Abyss", translated from "Los Abismos", is set in Cali, Colombia, where young Claudia lives with her family in an apartment full of plants that she calls "the jungle". She lives an ordinary life that is upended when her 50-something aunt gets married in secret to a man decades younger, who immediately takes to Claudia's mother.
Claudia's genealogy is marked by women who married very young to much older men to have their children. As she begins to become aware of the grim realities of the adults around her, Claudia realizes that, for many women, the abyss might be the only other option.
I really enjoyed this subtle exploration of gender roles and expectations, plus the descriptions were so vivid, I felt I was there.
However, the story being narrated from 8-year-old Claudia's POV didn't feel entirely convincing to me. It wasn't a child's voice or a child's perspective (which would be really hard to convey in a digestible way!), and I wonder if it wouldn't have been better to narrate it as older Claudia looking back (which is what I thought was going to happen at the beginning).
I was also missing a true ending; I felt like the story left me hanging, not just in terms of plot but also thematically. It just ended.
This was a quick and engaging read, though, so I would still recommend it to anyone interested in the theme - as long as you don't expect a plot resolution of any kind.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Abyss centers around Claudia, the eight year old daughter of Claudia and Jorge, who grows up in Cali, Colombia. She witnesses her mother’s affair with her sister-in-law’s husband, and when her father discovers the affair, she witnesses the slow break of her mother’s spirits, her parents’ marriage, and witnesses them slowly drift off towards the abyss.
Story-wise, this felt like another blow to the gut as it was like reading my own experience. Though I didn’t witness it myself, like Claudia did, what happened to her parents’ marriage also happened in my life, around the same age.
Perhaps that is why I connected to the story better than others who reviewed it, but I never felt the tone of voice was unbelievable for a girl of eight. Witnessing and experiencing something as raw and frightening as your mother’s descent into depression, as well as the crumbling of your parents’ marriage, makes you grow up faster.
Ultimately, I felt the ending was a bit too abrupt for my liking, but this short book is a stellar novella and well worth your time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character