You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
UNFINISHED
REVIEW RATING SYSTEM - [ 1 = FELT DECEIVED, 2 = NOT WHAT I EXPECTED IN A BAD WAY BUT WASN'T A WASTE OF TIME, 3 = WHAT I EXPECTED FELT LIKE MY TIME WAS USED AS EXPECTED, 4 = PLEASANTLY SURPRISED, 5 = THINKING ABOUT IT MONTHS LATER ]
RULES : (1) can not give anything a 5 outright, must either be a re-read or a update to score, (2) can not give incremental ratings, except for 4.75 which is functionally a "revisit in case it is actually a 5", (3) I should always end with a "this leads me to think" of 2-3 ideas this book roused in me.
This is a book I'm absolutely so happy exists, but at the same time, I am not sure it's quite for me.
There were some "chapters" (?) that were stand outs, better than others, but I just couldn't really get into the groove of the book, and kept expecting.. something else? More overt themes? And the themes that I did pull out were interesting! But not told to me in a way that felt digestible by me.
The photography vs time, the pervasive loneliness of not being understood (or, in the case of his mom, losing the one person that he felt either understood by or comfortable being un-understood by).
I think the incredibly understated experience of abuse is confusing on first read, and felt 'offensive', but after reading more of what I miss, I appreciate how delicately the history of abuse impacted Grey.
not sure, at all, how to interpret the interview.
It was a quick read, so I think I might put on my re-read shelf.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 2nd read
ugh i read it a second time and I'm still torn on what I think of it. On the second, slower read through, I think I have a new appreciation for the "low" chapters. Aka the ones that are just not standout. Even if, on their face, they feel less beautiful, don't move the plot along as much, etc. there is some very interesting, and consistent, theming, symbolism, etc throughout the pages. those chapters give it space to breath without losing the rhythm or background color of the story.
This time, I focussed a lot more on kind of imagining the story as a stage play, where the understated writing could be taken on and interpreted in a different way. IE with more intensity. Doing that made me feel (a) much better about the impact of abuse, and (b) gave much more emotional depth to the characters. I think that improved the story, and I don't think it's a detraction from the story that I had to sit there and try out a few expressions for each of the lines until I found one that felt like it fit the scene and narrative.
it should have been more obvious to me but the consistency of colors, and the call backs and forward to cages, tunnels, enclosures, open air on the other side of a wall, etc. are all so remarkably consistent. I think, partially, that's why the story feels so static for the first 100 or so pages. G is in the same position over and over again, being contrasted as red against blues and yellows and blacks.
I think, for now, I'm dropping it to a 4, and not bumping to a 5. It is really great, but I think for me it is lacking a staying power in terms of shaping what I think moving forward. I'm sure I'll re-read it at some point, again.
REVIEW RATING SYSTEM - [ 1 = FELT DECEIVED, 2 = NOT WHAT I EXPECTED IN A BAD WAY BUT WASN'T A WASTE OF TIME, 3 = WHAT I EXPECTED FELT LIKE MY TIME WAS USED AS EXPECTED, 4 = PLEASANTLY SURPRISED, 5 = THINKING ABOUT IT MONTHS LATER ]
RULES : (1) can not give anything a 5 outright, must either be a re-read or a update to score, (2) can not give incremental ratings, except for 4.75 which is functionally a "revisit in case it is actually a 5", (3) I should always end with a "this leads me to think" of 2-3 ideas this book roused in me.
There were some "chapters" (?) that were stand outs, better than others, but I just couldn't really get into the groove of the book, and kept expecting.. something else? More overt themes? And the themes that I did pull out were interesting! But not told to me in a way that felt digestible by me.
The photography vs time, the pervasive loneliness of not being understood (or, in the case of his mom, losing the one person that he felt either understood by or comfortable being un-understood by).
I think the incredibly understated experience of abuse is confusing on first read, and felt 'offensive', but after reading more of what I miss, I appreciate how delicately the history of abuse impacted Grey.
not sure, at all, how to interpret the interview.
It was a quick read, so I think I might put on my re-read shelf.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 2nd read
ugh i read it a second time and I'm still torn on what I think of it. On the second, slower read through, I think I have a new appreciation for the "low" chapters. Aka the ones that are just not standout. Even if, on their face, they feel less beautiful, don't move the plot along as much, etc. there is some very interesting, and consistent, theming, symbolism, etc throughout the pages. those chapters give it space to breath without losing the rhythm or background color of the story.
This time, I focussed a lot more on kind of imagining the story as a stage play, where the understated writing could be taken on and interpreted in a different way. IE with more intensity. Doing that made me feel (a) much better about the impact of abuse, and (b) gave much more emotional depth to the characters. I think that improved the story, and I don't think it's a detraction from the story that I had to sit there and try out a few expressions for each of the lines until I found one that felt like it fit the scene and narrative.
it should have been more obvious to me but the consistency of colors, and the call backs and forward to cages, tunnels, enclosures, open air on the other side of a wall, etc. are all so remarkably consistent. I think, partially, that's why the story feels so static for the first 100 or so pages. G is in the same position over and over again, being contrasted as red against blues and yellows and blacks.
I think, for now, I'm dropping it to a 4, and not bumping to a 5. It is really great, but I think for me it is lacking a staying power in terms of shaping what I think moving forward. I'm sure I'll re-read it at some point, again.
a winding book told in a unique style of verse, it’s one that i deeply love for its different ways of analysis and the new interpretation you can bring with each reading
p.s. poor Geryon, you deserved so much better
p.s. poor Geryon, you deserved so much better
maybe another time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
No soy digna de hacerle una review a este libro.
Me ha gustado mucho y creo que tengo más páginas marcadas que sin marcar.
Anne Carson escribe como los ángeles, es increíble cómo dota de poesía a las cosas más mundanas.
Me ha gustado mucho y creo que tengo más páginas marcadas que sin marcar.
Anne Carson escribe como los ángeles, es increíble cómo dota de poesía a las cosas más mundanas.
adventurous
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Anne Carson creates a dizzying but approachable story about love, introversion and growth in this mix of poetry and prose. If this sounds serious it mostly isn’t, Carson has a sharp wit and the writing will have you laughing more than you expect.
i could go on and on about how beautiful this book is, but i don't think i have to. one of my all time favorites.
Favorite book ever. Read it countless times over the past few years & each time is better than the last somehow?
The language just Makes Sense in a way I've never experienced before. Made me cry, smile, feel every emotion known to humankind tbh, etc. You know. The usual.
Maybe I'll reread it in twenty years and feel differently. But God does this book make me feel everything right now.
The language just Makes Sense in a way I've never experienced before. Made me cry, smile, feel every emotion known to humankind tbh, etc. You know. The usual.
Maybe I'll reread it in twenty years and feel differently. But God does this book make me feel everything right now.