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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Some of the stories are good but a lot felt directionless.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A really impressive debut by Yugambeh woman Ellen van Neerven. I'm not surprised it was shortlisted for and won a bunch of awards. Each of the three sections (Heat, Water and Light) offers something a little different and there's a real vitality in the writing. It's mostly realism, but veers into science fiction in the long story 'Water'.
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another strange but important book (seems as though I have a type...). I read this book for class where we looked at the importance of First Nations literature. In many ways I am thankful for this book, there is much that my eyes have been opened to and there is so much to discuss when it comes to nuances and "themes" and even in that, there is only so much that I (a 20-year-old, straight, white, cis-woman) can dissect. While I can say I do not forget the impact White people have made on First Nations globally, I can certainly admit that there are times when all I remember is what I was taught in school - and as we all know, what they teach us is only brushing the surface. But, now and again, I come across a piece of art that forces me to sit down and listen, and this book is one of those artworks. I could not engage with this novel temporarily, I had to entangle myself with its storyline in a way that had me taking notes in the margin (of my own accord).
I should, when the time approaches me, very much like to read this collection once again and involve myself in ways that I was not able to before. In this, perhaps I can add more to the conversation as to why I believe this to be such an important novel.
I should, when the time approaches me, very much like to read this collection once again and involve myself in ways that I was not able to before. In this, perhaps I can add more to the conversation as to why I believe this to be such an important novel.
I read “water” for literary classics and it was incredibly transformative. A beautiful short story showing worlds going beyond the binary through incorporating indigenous knowledge in the speculative fiction world and queer identities. I don’t want to spoil the concept so I will be writing a spoiler version but I think this collection is so important and I definitely will be reading more!
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thoroughly enjoyed the first collection of stories and the second main story. However, ended up losing interest in the last section. Overall a good read and would recommend.
2 1/2 stars. As with many short story collections, some are compelling and others aren't. The author has a lovely use of language though, so even for the stories I didn't care for I did like the descriptive prose
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
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
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes