Reviews

The Taiga Syndrome by Cristina Rivera Garza

bowden's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

larkspurlane's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

pallavi_sharma87's review against another edition

3.0

***3.0***

Originally written in Spanish, The Taiga syndrome is a classic noir detective story. A female detective is hired by a husband to find his wife who eloped with another man to Taiga. Taiga is a place which is kind of underbelly of society. It is also said that people catch a syndrome that causes them to go mad in a desire to leave the place but are unable to do so.

There was a lot of parts in the story which were not clear, kind of hazy dream like situations. It was confusing but the writing style is poetic and sensory-based. Most bizarre reading experience.


Happy Reading!!!

ripj's review

challenging mysterious reflective fast-paced

4.25

Complex story about getting lost in a story, about translation, about, pain and the obliteration of the self. I understood like a third of it, it’s great.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

maddie_lewis28's review

I have no thoughts. I simply don't understand. At first I thought it was interesting and liked the writing style, but the second half.... I'm so confused

szike_01's review against another edition

4.0

I don't know that I understand the novel. It's elusive, bends language and grammar to escape being pinned down easily. It's a translation of a translation of a translation.
I don't know that I understand it, but I know that I will be thinking about it long after closing the last page.

wtheriac's review against another edition

mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

An oddly lyrical novella, a beautiful magical realist mystery. My favorite part is the playlist included in the last chapter that, if listened to while reading, drastically enhanced the atmosphere.

sarihelikopter's review against another edition

4.0

3.5

liketheday's review against another edition

3.0

I picked this book up largely because it was the last available book on my OverDrive list for the Shirley Jackson awards and I wanted to give it some love, but also because that cover and because the description is tantalizingly vague.

It turns out that the whole book is kind of tantalizingly vague, with somehow a million details and no details all at the same time and an ending that wraps up almost nothing. It's weird from the start and it only gets weirder, but in a way that I liked even if I didn't understand it. I am definitely intrigued to read more from this author.

sleger107's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5