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mcrammal's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The fact that I liked this book best when I wasn’t reading it, the fact that I went through the five stages of grief each day, the fact that I can’t decide if I like it or not, but I’m glad I read it, though I would never reread it, but maybe I’ll keep it on my bookshelf and lug it around each time I move, the fact that I didn’t discover the glossary for abbreviations until I was 100 pages in, but by then I didn’t care about what they meant because there were too many of them, the fact that she sure talked a lot about movies she saw and dreams she had, the fact that I bet if you cut all that out of the book it would be down at least 200 pages, the fact that this is a 900+ pages long sentence, the fact that the timeline is undetermined and shaky, the fact that sometimes that made reading it confusing, the fact that I can’t decide if Lucy Ellmann is crazee for writing this, or a genius, the fact that maybe ask me a month from now, or two months from now, or a year from now, the fact that I’ve seen people say this is a good representation of how people thought in 2019, the fact that that feels both accurate and exaggerated, the fact that if you take too long to read this book you’ll miss all the call backs to previous thoughts, the fact that I tried to read 60 pages a day but am sure there’s plenty of call backs I missed, the fact that I hope to never again read a book that has lists and lists and lists ever again, the fact that I can’t decide if I like this book or not, the fact that phew, this really was a lot of word vomit, and I wonder if people really think this way, the fact that it made me wonder how I think, if I think in words or wordless thoughts, but I keep forgetting to try to pay attention, the fact the last sentence clause sure did wrap it up nicely, at least in my opinion, the fact that actually maybe I don’t know how I feel about it, the fact that I’m still unsure now how I feel about the work as a whole, the fact that I need to start a new normal book to reset my brain, and it’ll be a relief to read a book that has lots and lots of sentences, and paragraphs, and a timeline, instead of one big long sentence that’s occasionally cut up by a story in the perspective of a mountain lion that was searching for her babies, the fact that this book sure was an experience, and that’s all I can say about it for now.
ollie_walker's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
elliecarr97's review against another edition
4.5
Ducks, Newburyport is an inner monologue of an Ohio housewife. From pies to gun violence, this is in depth and detailed narrative of one person’s anxieties, memories, and life.
This book is LONG - 1001 pages to be exact. I did cheat somewhat by listening to it on audible, although this was over 46 hours, much longer than it would have taken me to read it. There are few breaks in text, as well as lots of listing. If you read the book from start to finish and did a shot every time she says “the fact that”, you’d probably get alcohol poisoning.
Being inside this characters mind really makes you feel as if you know her. Ellmann uses a character who seems to be overlooked by most to comment on topics such as gun violence, racism, and climate change. I feel like I know the protagonist so well, and although the assumed audience is actually herself, since we witness her inner thoughts, it feels as if there is a relationship between her and the reader.
I would recommend this tentatively, because although I enjoyed it and think it’s a unique and excellent piece of literature, it is lengthy and some readers have called it tedious. The stream of consciousness style for this length of narrative is a huge achievement by Ellmann regardless.
This book is LONG - 1001 pages to be exact. I did cheat somewhat by listening to it on audible, although this was over 46 hours, much longer than it would have taken me to read it. There are few breaks in text, as well as lots of listing. If you read the book from start to finish and did a shot every time she says “the fact that”, you’d probably get alcohol poisoning.
Being inside this characters mind really makes you feel as if you know her. Ellmann uses a character who seems to be overlooked by most to comment on topics such as gun violence, racism, and climate change. I feel like I know the protagonist so well, and although the assumed audience is actually herself, since we witness her inner thoughts, it feels as if there is a relationship between her and the reader.
I would recommend this tentatively, because although I enjoyed it and think it’s a unique and excellent piece of literature, it is lengthy and some readers have called it tedious. The stream of consciousness style for this length of narrative is a huge achievement by Ellmann regardless.
kkgarrett's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cameronwaller's review
5.0
If in the future someone asks me what it was like to live through these modern times, I will simply place this thick tome in their outstretched palms, plant a light loving kiss atop their forehead, and bid them go ... *whisper* be well.
To have had something as consistent as Ducks, Newburyport to accompany me through the incredibly inconsistent summer of 2020 was a true blessing. I'm left feeling quite sad that I must now leave this book and this narrator in the past. By the end I felt as though my biometrics had fused to the rhythms of the prose. Simply put: I loved this book. A once in a lifetime reading experience.
To have had something as consistent as Ducks, Newburyport to accompany me through the incredibly inconsistent summer of 2020 was a true blessing. I'm left feeling quite sad that I must now leave this book and this narrator in the past. By the end I felt as though my biometrics had fused to the rhythms of the prose. Simply put: I loved this book. A once in a lifetime reading experience.
justinmurray's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kp68's review against another edition
3.0
I'm really not sure how to rate this novel, I felt both annoyed and entertained in equal measure throughout, mainly due to the way it was written.
I see the format as both a negative, repetitive and difficult for me to maintain focus; and also a positive, in that it's original and doesn't leave you feeling totally crushed by the state of the goings on in today's world.
The novel touches on so many issues of concern to me that if I dwell too long on them, make me feel a real sense of helplessness.
Perhaps this format is the perfect way to deal with that. Touching on topics of concern then veering away before the reader has a chance of becoming overwhelmed with the gravity. A lot of it is quite frivolous but hidden among the silliness is a lot of darkness.
Overall I enjoyed reading it but I do think the author's point could quite easily have been made in far fewer pages as by the end I started to feel quite irritated and just wanted it to be over. I am glad I finished it, though I'm not sure it's something I'd recommend to others.
I see the format as both a negative, repetitive and difficult for me to maintain focus; and also a positive, in that it's original and doesn't leave you feeling totally crushed by the state of the goings on in today's world.
The novel touches on so many issues of concern to me that if I dwell too long on them, make me feel a real sense of helplessness.
Perhaps this format is the perfect way to deal with that. Touching on topics of concern then veering away before the reader has a chance of becoming overwhelmed with the gravity. A lot of it is quite frivolous but hidden among the silliness is a lot of darkness.
Overall I enjoyed reading it but I do think the author's point could quite easily have been made in far fewer pages as by the end I started to feel quite irritated and just wanted it to be over. I am glad I finished it, though I'm not sure it's something I'd recommend to others.
tshrope's review against another edition
3.0
The fact that I liked the first half of this book. The fact that I thought it was original and I could relate to the stream of consciousness of random thoughts and stories. The fact that there is so much repetition that the book could have been 20 hours of audio instead of 42 hours if you take out most of the repetition. The fact that I understand the repetition shows what her obsessions are. The fact that I don't think we need 500 extra pages of the same repetitions to prove the point. The fact that I speeded this up the audio book 2x's to get through it. The fact that this needed a better editor and it would have been DUCKY!