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bhaines's review against another edition
good. the first half was one of the most relatable character portraits I've read. the second half is very different but also good. how something can completely fall apart, stuck under the hot metal roof with nothing to do forever. the movie Wake in Fright reminded me of it.
a relationship of any kind between whites and blacks is unthinkable. Society relies on it being impossible to consider it. the actual relationship is confusing and vague in some ways, but maybe inevitably
a relationship of any kind between whites and blacks is unthinkable. Society relies on it being impossible to consider it. the actual relationship is confusing and vague in some ways, but maybe inevitably
readymcreadleton's review against another edition
5.0
I started reading this book without knowing much about it and was appreciating the strident feminist voice. It moved into the area of race relations and was similarly scathing about the social environment its characters are set in. Then I looked at the detail of the book and was amazed to see when it was written. The writing is so politically aware at a time when I dont think a lot of women authors were getting published, and certainly I dont know that many people were writing so ardently on subjects like this. It got me very interested in reading more of Lessing's work.
The book details the slow progression of a woman's nervous breakdown due to the heat and isolation of living alone in a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. The way Lessing describes her deterioration is staggeringly astute. It was not a pleasant read, but the situation of the protagonist rocked me, and I expect she will stay with me for a long time to come.
The book details the slow progression of a woman's nervous breakdown due to the heat and isolation of living alone in a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. The way Lessing describes her deterioration is staggeringly astute. It was not a pleasant read, but the situation of the protagonist rocked me, and I expect she will stay with me for a long time to come.
rpaulams's review against another edition
1.0
La verdad es que no pude empatizar nada con los personajes. En cuanto a la relación entre la protagonista y Moses es muy extraña (o yo no he entendido nada.)
paulams's review against another edition
1.0
La verdad es que no pude empatizar nada con los personajes. En cuanto a la relación entre la protagonista y Moses es muy extraña (o yo no he entendido nada.)
ladybirder's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
harrietjwood's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
libbymon's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Colonisation
jadejoosten's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
atlantisblauw's review against another edition
4.0
The main character struggles with her role in society as a woman. At the same time she is an oppressor, who despises the black workers on the farm where she lives. But it is also a very personal and sad story of a lonely woman who doesn't know how to connect with others and becomes bitter and angry. I can relate to her to some extent, I recognise the moments of getting extremely frustrated because of small setbacks. When you're alone for a long time, your world seems to become smaller and every problem seems immense, with no one to distract you or help put things into perspective. For Mary, living on the farm is unbearable. She hates the farm, the natives working on it, her husband, but most of all the heat. It doesn't exactly make for cheerful reading and it can feel quite oppressive. It's well-written prose, quite to the point, but Lessing could have left more to the reader's imagination. Sometimes it feels like a sarcastic commentator is explaining a situation to the reader and it draws the attention away from the story itself.