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molly_benevides's review
2.0
I liked the beginning, but the middle and end just didn't work for me. I don't have anything super smart to say about it, even though I think I should.
aksej972's review
adventurous
mysterious
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
3.0
agniesta's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ktxx22's review against another edition
3.0
Complicated and scientific... A real storyless story. I enjoyed the terminology and vocabulary used in this book, but the story in itself was meh. Middle ground stars for a middle ground book.
teffin's review
3.0
I am still unsure what I thought of this book: there were parts that were really interesting (on narrative and telling stories and the storyless story) but then the "main" story I just could not bring myself to care about. I didn't understand why meg and Christopher were together for so long, I didn't care about her affair and I didn't care about the beast storyline. The only part of the plot I liked was when she moved into the cottage. There were so many parts that could have worked but just didn't - and there were lots of parts where the author clearly wanted to get some information in (like Josh's theory of the universe which went on way too long) but the characters just basically gave a speech rather than it feeling organically included in the story. I think the problem is that this book just feels like it needed far more editing.
joannavaught's review
4.0
i devoured this in 24 hours. it was like having a really good friend come into town just for one night, so you stay up all night and drink wine and get pretty silly and discuss everything. loved it. i wish scarlett thomas would visit more often.
seebeeoss's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
canonically_k's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Ship-in-a-bottle distribution system. No chapters, just a part 1 and 2, lots of flashbacks.
linneahedvig's review
4.0
This was almost more philosophy than narrative, but it philosophized about narrative in a way that really made me rethink what I expect from fiction...and what I expect from life. It talked a lot about how we narrativize our lives in a way that isn't quite healthy.
The main character, Meg, writes YA series books while she tries to get her "real" novel written, but she just keeps deleting more and more words from her novel. But instead of the novel becoming nothing, it's like it could be anything--a grocery list, a note to her boyfriend. This book feels similarly ambiguous, but in the best way.
The main character, Meg, writes YA series books while she tries to get her "real" novel written, but she just keeps deleting more and more words from her novel. But instead of the novel becoming nothing, it's like it could be anything--a grocery list, a note to her boyfriend. This book feels similarly ambiguous, but in the best way.