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emory's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
lapeladaesa's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Al principio me costó un poco encontrarle el ritmo pero una vez que retenes en la memoria a todos los personajes y sus historias, me re enganché, muy buen planteo. Es de rápida lectura
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia, Trafficking, and Rape
beltari's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Bullying, Confinement, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Trafficking, and Slavery
Minor: Child abuse and Adult/minor relationship
torismazarine's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Stalking, and Death
Moderate: Trafficking, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Pedophilia
Minor: Domestic abuse and Panic attacks/disorders
haleypages's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I absolutely loved the exploration of this idea. Although the characters won’t stay with me, I will be thinking about this concept for a long time. This book also helped me realize what kind of format I like. This read much more like a short story collection than a stereotypical novel. I understand why the author chose to flip through so many stories and return to a few larger ones, but I think I would have found it more engaging if there was just one main storyline, with other smaller storylines only contained to one chapter. I’m excited to read what else Schweblin has written.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pedophilia
saint_eleanor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This made me feel so many different emotions but ultimately was super unsettling and also so human, is the only way I can describe it. It asks lots of important questions, like about your consciousness and what is an ‘extension of u’ and what is not. Super close and intimate (sometimes too intimate) look at the human condition if it was ruled by little portals. Also, this book is translated beautifully.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Violence, Child abuse, and Excrement
emily_koopmann's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying and Violence
Minor: Trafficking and Pedophilia
inkylabyrinth's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Confinement and Pedophilia
bailey_the_bookworm's review
dark
emotional
tense
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
4.5
This book broke my brain. I read it in a single sitting—I could not put it down once I started it. It’s disturbing, upsetting, fascinating, thought-provoking. I’m going to have nightmares for weeks
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, and Toxic friendship
house_of_hannah's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
I couldn't picture these Kentukis as anything other than Furbys. Doesn't matter if it's described as a crow, bunny, or dragon, my brain says Furby.
I did end up overwhelmed by how many different POVs we are given here. Instead of being numbered, each chapter is titled with a town name. Some we only see once, others several times. We see new POVs almost right up until the end, so it would take me a few paragraphs sometimes to remember who the people are.
The first chapter is essentially what you first think is going to happen in a situation like this. Also, imagine my surprise when the first chapter is titled South Bend, which is only 30 minutes from my hometown, and a place I've been a million times. Definitely makes it more real, but that was one town the book only visited once.
We do get a variety of situations throughout the story, but I don't believe any of them are happy endings. Since there are so many POVs, it also feels like we are viewing the stories from a distance (maybe in our own Kentuki ?). For me I think I would have have been more interested in delving into some of these stories deeper, and understanding the characters a bit more, instead of having some of the one off POVs.
You definitely need to have a sense of disbelief going into this, as the entire concept is something that just would not work in reality. The legality of it is extremely sketchy, security would be a nightmare, but all countries agreeing on something like this would just never happen.
Overall this just ended up as an average read for me. I felt most of the POVs stayed too surface level, as the connections with the Kentukis would be cut right as things were getting interesting. There are two more books by this author that I am interested in reading though, so I will be checking out more of her writing.
I did end up overwhelmed by how many different POVs we are given here. Instead of being numbered, each chapter is titled with a town name. Some we only see once, others several times. We see new POVs almost right up until the end, so it would take me a few paragraphs sometimes to remember who the people are.
The first chapter is essentially what you first think is going to happen in a situation like this. Also, imagine my surprise when the first chapter is titled South Bend, which is only 30 minutes from my hometown, and a place I've been a million times. Definitely makes it more real, but that was one town the book only visited once.
We do get a variety of situations throughout the story, but I don't believe any of them are happy endings. Since there are so many POVs, it also feels like we are viewing the stories from a distance (maybe in our own Kentuki ?). For me I think I would have have been more interested in delving into some of these stories deeper, and understanding the characters a bit more, instead of having some of the one off POVs.
You definitely need to have a sense of disbelief going into this, as the entire concept is something that just would not work in reality. The legality of it is extremely sketchy, security would be a nightmare, but all countries agreeing on something like this would just never happen.
Overall this just ended up as an average read for me. I felt most of the POVs stayed too surface level, as the connections with the Kentukis would be cut right as things were getting interesting. There are two more books by this author that I am interested in reading though, so I will be checking out more of her writing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia, Confinement, and Sexual content
Minor: Kidnapping, Death, and Infidelity