Scan barcode
lindsey_bear's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
Just the literary fiction I was looking for! This felt important without being pretentious. It touched on themes of grief, social justice, and change. I connected with the stories, especially that of Richard. I liked how stories of art and history were weaved in. I would read this again and recommend to anyone wanting a fiction novel with substance.
twisttheplot's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
booksontour's review against another edition
2.5
💐 I find it really hard to review this book, because I have a very ambivalent attitude towards it. The author has created a very unique story that takes up contemporary themes such as Brexit, immigration or social disharmony. This component came as a surprise to me, but I really liked it. In some places, however, I had the feeling that I was not clever enough to understand and classify all the references. I really enjoyed and loved all the spring-themed anecdotes since topics as new beginnings, rebirth or change played a role again and again.
Nevertheless, I imagined something different under the book and I couldn‘t really dive into the story. It was hard for me to understand the constellations of all the characters and I also did not understand some of the recurring topics. For this reason, the plot seemed sometimes kind of random to me. I think the book is brilliantly written but I lacked some of the intellect to fully get the potential. However, i really enjoyed picking up this book, also because I‘m so obsessed with its beautiful cover. 🍃🌼
Nevertheless, I imagined something different under the book and I couldn‘t really dive into the story. It was hard for me to understand the constellations of all the characters and I also did not understand some of the recurring topics. For this reason, the plot seemed sometimes kind of random to me. I think the book is brilliantly written but I lacked some of the intellect to fully get the potential. However, i really enjoyed picking up this book, also because I‘m so obsessed with its beautiful cover. 🍃🌼
sparksinthevoid's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kathrynjbrand's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
binnurdolunay's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
I loved this book!
Beautifully written and narratively strong with three stories woven into one.
Smith’s voice is very compelling. I liked the social commentary and found that the cultural and political references enriched the story.
Discovered this book at a bookstore in Inverness where Smith is from. It was the first work of hers that I’ve read and it certainly won’t be the last!
Beautifully written and narratively strong with three stories woven into one.
Smith’s voice is very compelling. I liked the social commentary and found that the cultural and political references enriched the story.
Discovered this book at a bookstore in Inverness where Smith is from. It was the first work of hers that I’ve read and it certainly won’t be the last!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Xenophobia
chloeauden's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ryliereadss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is my favorite in the series so far. I loved seeing Richard and Paddy's relationship through the years. It was crazy that I just so happened to be reading Rainer Maria Rilke's Sonnets for Orpheus when I started reading this book. Paddy is such a lovable character, you can see why Richard is feeling so much grief. Florence is amazing and I love her dearly, the magical realism is so awesome. Brit was a tough character to like but her protectiveness of Florence was sweet. I really enjoy all the research that goes into these books. We learn about Rilke and Katherine Mansfield, illegal immigration camps, and what happens to those immigrants. There are also a couple pages about social media and face recognition. I also kind of like not having all my questions answered at the end of the book, leaves room for mystery and theories. Really really enjoyed it.