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dolores153's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Revelations about 2/3 of the way through the book completely changed meaning of earlier chapters. Started over again at the beginning, and enjoyed recognizing the interplay of the various parts. Unexpectedly delightful analogy with musical progressions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Racism, Death, Toxic relationship, and Terminal illness
Minor: Death of parent, Xenophobia, Cancer, and Classism
hmetwade's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Confinement, Death of parent, Medical content, Terminal illness, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Forced institutionalization, and Blood
gracescanlon's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
In Trust, Díaz used unique method of storytelling I'd not encountered but much enjoyed. I loved that the first two parts of the book were written by men, both with fond feelings toward the main female character, but flawed, and limited by their upbringing and the society around them all the same, while the second parts were told by female characters about their own experiences, using their own words.
The ordering of these parts created the effect of the women setting the record straight. One woman saw herself in the other and used her own experience as a woman to read between the lines of the previous narratives to learn the real story while placating men. Meanwhile, the other woman told the actual story, as it happened in her life, using her own words. I loved that it seemed that it was the combined efforts of the women that revealed the truth - the first, in analyzing the information she was given and pursuing the real story, and the second, in recording the facts as she knew them.
The ordering of these parts created the effect of the women setting the record straight. One woman saw herself in the other and used her own experience as a woman to read between the lines of the previous narratives to learn the real story while placating men. Meanwhile, the other woman told the actual story, as it happened in her life, using her own words. I loved that it seemed that it was the combined efforts of the women that revealed the truth - the first, in analyzing the information she was given and pursuing the real story, and the second, in recording the facts as she knew them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Medical content, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Death, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Self harm
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Classism, Confinement, Infertility, and Grief
Minor: Violence
elle_e_d_light's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It's really more like 4 books in one, but each book is about the same story.
I personally really liked it, but I can totally understand why others would not. Nearly everybody in this book is a terrible person—or morally gray at best. Also, it can be a bit repetitive due to the concept. I still liked it and read it one go though.
I personally really liked it, but I can totally understand why others would not. Nearly everybody in this book is a terrible person—or morally gray at best. Also, it can be a bit repetitive due to the concept. I still liked it and read it one go though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Moderate: Self harm
thecriticalreader's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
3.75
Review:
I spent the first half to two-thirds of Trust by Hernan Diaz feeling vaguely confused. I could understand what was happening, but I struggled to find the why. I kept asking myself, is this going anywhere? Is there a point to what I am reading right now? The answer, thankfully, is “yes,” and my advice to anyone feeling a bit confused or doubtful while reading this book is to continue reading.
I ended up appreciating the narrative creativity, strong writing, and interesting thematic explorations in Trust, and I am certain that I would get more out of the novel if I were able to read it again. That said, since I spent significant portions of the book feeling rather disinterested or confused, I cannot give it a super high rating.
Additional Note: The cover of Trust is possibly the best book cover I have ever seen. The image of a Manhattan skyscraper in the glass dome of a stock ticker, with a green background reminiscent of American dollar bills? Magnificent.
The Run-Down:
You will probably like Trust if:
· You appreciate creative narrative structures.
· You are interested in themes of money, power, and relationships.
You might not like Trust if:
· You get bored or impatient easily.
· You are expecting a dramatic, epic story detailing the glitz, glamour, boom, and bust of the Jazz Age: Trust is decidedly not this, and instead is an incredibly intimate story with only a handful of characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Cancer, Medical trauma, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Classism and Toxic relationship
Minor: Self harm
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