Scan barcode
tasharobinson's review against another edition
3.0
Struggled a bit to get through this book, which mixes Douglas Adams whimsy with attempts at grand philosophical profundity, and works better in the former mode than the latter. There's a lot of repetition in the way the author goes deep into what each of his characters are thinking at any moment — the book only covers about 30 minutes of action, with a frame story involving a goldfish falling off a building that takes only seconds, but stretches throughout the entire book. Given those choices, everything naturally feels compressed and like it isn't moving forward very rapidly. There's some really fun, lighthearted stuff here, and a lot of creative and interesting characterization, but whenever the book tried to stretch that into grand statements on the meaning of life, I felt it dragged.
Reviewed this for NPR here.
Reviewed this for NPR here.
margaret21's review against another edition
4.0
I really can't decide what I think of this book. It was a slow burn for me, and it took me a while to get into it. A great idea - having a goldfish fall from his usual home on the 27th floor of an apartment block (where he's sort of looked after by over-sexed Connor) downwards to the pavement beneath. On his way he passes apartments in which small dramas are being acted out, lives becoming changed. Finally I became engaged in all these stories. I began to care about Katie, one of Connor's many girlfriends,and about home-schooled Hermann, and agoraphobic Claire, and Garth who.... no, spoiler alert, and janitor Jimenez...and, and... The only one I didn't really care about was Ian the goldfish. I found the chapters about him and his downward journey somewhat tedious. Quirky, fun, original .... yes, go on, read it.
ldv's review against another edition
4.0
Such a pleasure to read! Quirky and light and well crafted, but still with meaningful content and commentary on life. The main theme is loneliness, but love, relationships, and taking the risk to actually live life are related themes addressed in the book. I like how the overall "plot" progresses bit by bit by the omniscient narrator dropping in on the different characters whose stories are woven together. They are all unconnected (initially) except that they all live in the same apartment building. The interludes of the fish named Ian are great. Watch him fall on the margins of the pages, just like a flip-book.
If all you read is the title of each chapter, you will be entertained. I dare you to read only the chapter titles and not be interested in the whole story.
If all you read is the title of each chapter, you will be entertained. I dare you to read only the chapter titles and not be interested in the whole story.
clairereviews's review against another edition
4.0
Review: Fishbowl by Bradley Somer Published by: Ebury Press (6th August 2015)
ISBN: 978-0091956929
Source: Review copy via publisher
Rating: 4.5*
Synopsis:
Even a goldfish can dream of adventure…
From his enviable view from a balcony on the 27th floor of an apartment block, Ian the Goldfish has frequent – if fleeting – desires for a more exciting life. Until one day, a series of unfortunate events gives him an opportunity to escape…
Our story begins, however, with the human inhabitants of Ian’s building. There is the handsome student, his girlfriend, and his mistress; an agoraphobic sex worker, the invisible caretaker; the pregnant woman on bed rest; and the home-schooled boy, Herman, who thinks he can travel through time.
And as Ian tumbles perilously downwards, he will witness all their lives, loves, triumphs and disasters…
My review:
Fishbowl is truly an original novel and it had me hooked (pardon the fishy pun!) from the start. Ian the goldfish has a unique perspective on the inhabitants of the apartment block where his owner lives and this is told in an insightful and intriguing manner.
It's really difficult to discuss the finer points without giving too much away. This book seems to have very mixed reviews so far, but I'm a fan.
I especially liked the flip book Ian on the pages and the bright orange hardback cover with the image of Ian, revealed by removing the dustjacket.
Thanks to Elaine at Ebury for sending me a review copy.
ISBN: 978-0091956929
Source: Review copy via publisher
Rating: 4.5*
Synopsis:
Even a goldfish can dream of adventure…
From his enviable view from a balcony on the 27th floor of an apartment block, Ian the Goldfish has frequent – if fleeting – desires for a more exciting life. Until one day, a series of unfortunate events gives him an opportunity to escape…
Our story begins, however, with the human inhabitants of Ian’s building. There is the handsome student, his girlfriend, and his mistress; an agoraphobic sex worker, the invisible caretaker; the pregnant woman on bed rest; and the home-schooled boy, Herman, who thinks he can travel through time.
And as Ian tumbles perilously downwards, he will witness all their lives, loves, triumphs and disasters…
My review:
Fishbowl is truly an original novel and it had me hooked (pardon the fishy pun!) from the start. Ian the goldfish has a unique perspective on the inhabitants of the apartment block where his owner lives and this is told in an insightful and intriguing manner.
It's really difficult to discuss the finer points without giving too much away. This book seems to have very mixed reviews so far, but I'm a fan.
I especially liked the flip book Ian on the pages and the bright orange hardback cover with the image of Ian, revealed by removing the dustjacket.
Thanks to Elaine at Ebury for sending me a review copy.
egerbosch_dobgirl99's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
4.0
sleightoffeet's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this one. It reminded me a bit of [b:Let the Great World Spin|5941033|Let the Great World Spin|Colum McCann|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474988022s/5941033.jpg|6113503] as far as the plot's construction: All of the things going on in an apartment building while a goldfish falls from the 27th floor. And yet, it's so much more than that.
The way the plot lines intermingled together was like watching the author put together a jigsaw puzzle. As I was learning about someone new, I would think, "Oh! I know where this fits in! This is also going on!" and sure enough, the character from the previous scene would make a small cameo in the next one.
The only thing that bothered me was the last chapter. It kind of read like a summation, and I felt that I just read the book, I don't need to be told what I just read. There were some poignant parts in the last chapter, but I would have been just as happy, if it ended a chapter earlier.
The way the plot lines intermingled together was like watching the author put together a jigsaw puzzle. As I was learning about someone new, I would think, "Oh! I know where this fits in! This is also going on!" and sure enough, the character from the previous scene would make a small cameo in the next one.
The only thing that bothered me was the last chapter. It kind of read like a summation, and I felt that I just read the book, I don't need to be told what I just read. There were some poignant parts in the last chapter, but I would have been just as happy, if it ended a chapter earlier.
kelbi's review against another edition
5.0
Unusual book but I loved it. The goldfish is just a sort of metaphor which works well.
cassandra_t'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
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Entertaining and a fast read. It‘s the story of an apartment building, what goes through people’s heads, and what happens behind closed doors.