Reviews

The Taiga Syndrome by Cristina Rivera Garza

liketheday's review against another edition

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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

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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

jackiescozyspace's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

chfugal's review

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slow-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? It's complicated

3.5

Library ebook, I don't understand what I read. 

ohainesva's review

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dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.25

I truly did not understand what was going on. I like that the author included a playlist at the end and I like the word taiga and the general atmosphere. Whole thing smacks of metaphore.

shiloniz's review against another edition

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5.0

There was a man & a woman. A forest. A wolf at the door. A scream. The endless trees. Window after window. A sea of lumberjacks. A sea of salt. A sea.

"We all carry a forest inside us, yes, kilometers of birch, fir, cedars. A gray sky. Things that never change."

shiloniz's review against another edition

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5.0

Just as good the second time.

pearloz's review against another edition

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4.0

Another breezy, cool but mostly weird literary mystery from this author. Loving the Mexican lit I’ve read lately—it’s like they’re writing for each other, they’re all so ethereal and dreamy and strange.

soynatnat's review against another edition

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mysterious

3.0

laurenboys's review

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dark mysterious reflective fast-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