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rionstorm's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
The vibe of town and claustrophobic atmosphere were really nicely created, and the rythmic cycle of meeting character after character and hearing their story/confession/opinions surprising didn't get old, as I expected it would.
I found it interesting to try and work out the pattern in who Pew talked to. I think I've settled on it being outsiders, or possibly the people who didn't ask Pew to speak/explain themselves? But I'm not sure. Possibly based on vibes. </Spoilers> I also enjoyed hearing what each character felt important to share with Pew, and what they assumed about them. Very much filling in the gaps the other person leaves with your own experience.
There's some interesting themes touched on, including how limited our physical bodies are as a means to explain and understand our realities and experiences, the discomfort and quick jump to hostility when someone defies catagorisation, how much of identity is subjective and situational, and the interconnectedness of living creatures.
The ending was a little bit of a let down for me, as I felt the tension leading up to the festival wasn't paid off as satisfyingly as it could have been, and the very last part was a bit confusing. I assume that the two of them became one of the disappeared like in the next county? But unsure. It went over my head a bit, I think
There's also, obviously, a trans/GNC/queer reading of the book. This is probably why I found it so difficult to refer to the main character as Pew, as it's a name that is given to them without any of their own input.
Overall really liked it. A lot of it is a bit meandering and philosophical, but it's also got wonderful, uncomfortable atmosphere building and some absolutely gorgeous writing. The most passages I've highlighted in a long time.
The vibe of town and claustrophobic atmosphere were really nicely created, and the rythmic cycle of meeting character after character and hearing their story/confession/opinions surprising didn't get old, as I expected it would.
I found it interesting to try and work out the pattern in
There's some interesting themes touched on, including how limited our physical bodies are as a means to explain and understand our realities and experiences, the discomfort and quick jump to hostility when someone defies catagorisation, how much of identity is subjective and situational, and the interconnectedness of living creatures.
The ending
There's also, obviously, a trans/GNC/queer reading of the book. This is probably why I found it so difficult to refer to the main character as Pew, as it's a name that is given to them without any of their own input.
Overall really liked it. A lot of it is a bit meandering and philosophical, but it's also got wonderful, uncomfortable atmosphere building and some absolutely gorgeous writing. The most passages I've highlighted in a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Transphobia, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Xenophobia, and War
Minor: Suicide attempt, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Medical content, Bullying, and Terminal illness
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Pew was a short but special read that cleverly threw doubt at the practise of Christian kindness. It also looked at constructs like race, gender, nationality and sexuality and how they can be used to divide, as an excuse to treat some people as less worthy than others.
When a family arrives at church one Sunday they find a stranger asleep in their pew. The person seems unwilling or unable to speak and their race, age and gender are all unclear. The family “kindly” takes the stranger in and give them the moniker Pew. Despite assurances that Pew is welcome it becomes clear they aren’t. The family and the church community at large are simply unable to cope with not knowing whether Pew is male or female, how old they are, what race they are or where they come from. They claim they need to know for reasons of safety but the links between that information and safety is never really made clear. Additionally the church folk believe that accepting their charity obliged Pew to conform to their wishes. Racial divides in the town are evident and after being locked in a room (to keep others safe) and refusing to cooperate with a medical exam, Pew is sent to stay with a Black family on the other side of town where it is claimed Pew will be more comfortable.
The story ends with a very creepy Forgiveness Festival, which seems to be a way for residents to feel forgiven for all their wrongdoings without actually having to apologise or do anything in the way of redress.
I really liked the writing style all. The fragmentary sentences effectively conveyed snippets of overheard conversation.
Pew could have been an immigrant, a refugee, transgender, male, female, Black, White, Asian, Latinx...In the construct of this story it didn’t really matter. Pew was a person, a person in need of help and hospitality. And yet this white church community could not be genuinely welcoming and hospitable because they could not be sure who Pew was. Pew’s humanity was not enough to warrant more than a facade of kindness.
Moral of this story is don’t be like the residents of this church community.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Transphobia
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