Reviews

We, Jane by Aimee Wall

Only show reviews with written explanations

Malaise. I’ve been trying to finger exactly what this recreated that was at once disaffecting… and oddly relatable and captivating. Not much happens in this book. The plot is, two women move back home to the maritimes, each for a different reason. Both are rootless and they keep attempting to form some substance in their early 20s by way of breaking from old patterns or completely falling into them.

Interactions are Rooney level insightful and tinged with a similar perspicacity. Similarly, I found myself moving in similar patterns. I would be completely riveted to what was happened and feeling like the dialogue or a particular affection or movement was filled with such meaning as to divine something greater—and then I’d meander into listlessness as things became more ephemeral.

It’s really hard to rate this book. I can see why people love it and why people didn’t think it worked. But I felt like, for me, I liked that it was doing that to me. It feels intentional. It’s too well written for it to not be, to be honest. And I kind of like how… ballsy that is? It’s like something David Foster Wallace would do. This book is about boredom. Now I’m going to make you retreat into your brain a defence mechanism because I’m going to make you feel exactly as bored as this guy on an airplane, literally doing nothing.

This is like that. But with sadness. And yeah, I’m about it, apparently.

clem's review

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dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

2.75

evenormandinc's review

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challenging reflective slow-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

4.0

njw13's review

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challenging emotional mysterious reflective medium-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? No

4.0

jouljet's review

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challenging reflective tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

spaghettireads's review

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I had to return it to the library. I was finding the beginning interesting and enjoying it, but I don't know whether it was enough to motivate me to get it out from the library again.

Content Warnings