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hanntastic's review against another edition
3.0
I received an ARC from the publisher.
This book was interesting. I'll definitely give it that it had a unique plot and characters. It had three interwoven stories, and as is often the case in books like these, I felt one of the stories was stronger than the other two and was annoyed when that story would end and one of the others would start. I did feel like the author didn't really like any of the characters which detracted from my reading a little bit. Overall I'd say, weird but fun.
This book was interesting. I'll definitely give it that it had a unique plot and characters. It had three interwoven stories, and as is often the case in books like these, I felt one of the stories was stronger than the other two and was annoyed when that story would end and one of the others would start. I did feel like the author didn't really like any of the characters which detracted from my reading a little bit. Overall I'd say, weird but fun.
thishannah's review against another edition
As you might expect from the title, this is an odd and dreamy short novel, but dreamy in a way that is still clear and focused. There is no concrete time or place, and very few references to real-life people or events, so the whole thing feels like it takes place in some other world with uncanny parallels to our own. I enjoyed seeing the threads of the narratives come together with the link of the mysterious drug albaria tying the knot. The tone of the story made the stakes seem lower than they actually are--there was surprisingly little urgency given to the topics of rampaging deer, a mother abandoning her child, and a home invader--but it gave the story an interesting perspective that seemed to match the effects of albaria on a person's mind. I thought it was interesting and clever, though maybe I'm biased since this is a book I read for work and I'm rooting for it to succeed. :)
mghnhill's review against another edition
I don't know, I was confused listening to this about who the characters were and I couldn't keep track of who was who and how old they were. It was weird and just not for me.
montyroz's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
reneereads's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
tdf645's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
_soraya_pl's review against another edition
1.0
If I had read the reviews on here before checking it out from the library it would’ve never come home with me.
I was excited ending chapter 1 because the writing is chaotic and I thought that would keep me enticed. But trust the reviews because you’ll have no idea when you’re switching between the 3 characters. Apparently this book is a think piece on capitalism in America but I thought it was about random people in a town with deer killing people for some reason [the reason is a mystery plant].
Unfortunately, you should skip this read.
I was excited ending chapter 1 because the writing is chaotic and I thought that would keep me enticed. But trust the reviews because you’ll have no idea when you’re switching between the 3 characters. Apparently this book is a think piece on capitalism in America but I thought it was about random people in a town with deer killing people for some reason [the reason is a mystery plant].
Unfortunately, you should skip this read.
breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
virginiamcc's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
yeller's review against another edition
4.0
This book doesn't have a conclusion in the strictest terms. There is no neatly tied bow of plot points or a conclusion to the conflicts that have been woven throughout the short novel. Instead, the book concludes with a few moments of clarity that tie the three disparate conflicts together and leave a still ambiguous ending that implies a semi-happy ending is possible.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a little bizarre, which I enjoy, but I wish we'd dive deeper into the mysteries the novel creates, such as Gabi and albaria. It does feel a bit like the story wasn't quite taken to its conclusion.
However, this book gets points if only because the writing is absolutely beautiful. On page 4, there is the best description of chronic pain I've ever seen and there were several times I had to take a breath and set the book down because the writing was just that good.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a little bizarre, which I enjoy, but I wish we'd dive deeper into the mysteries the novel creates, such as Gabi and albaria. It does feel a bit like the story wasn't quite taken to its conclusion.
However, this book gets points if only because the writing is absolutely beautiful. On page 4, there is the best description of chronic pain I've ever seen and there were several times I had to take a breath and set the book down because the writing was just that good.