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booksillremember's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. The premise was intriguing and I usually enjoy stories with ambiguous settings, characters and endings. There are some punchy metaphors here and there and some subtle observations.
But with this one, I feel it's trying to be too many things all at once.
The characters are too complex for it to work as a fable and too one-dimensional for it to work as a morally complex novel. The mix of show-don't-tell and tell-don't-show doesn't really work for me because neither feel fully fleshed out. The church people are ridiculously cringe and bigoted, whereas the more abstract commentary just feels preachy and sometimes a bit prerentious.
But with this one, I feel it's trying to be too many things all at once.
The characters are too complex for it to work as a fable and too one-dimensional for it to work as a morally complex novel. The mix of show-don't-tell and tell-don't-show doesn't really work for me because neither feel fully fleshed out. The church people are ridiculously cringe and bigoted, whereas the more abstract commentary just feels preachy and sometimes a bit prerentious.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, and Violence
gidgeytheg's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
esalan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Medical content, Racism, Abandonment, Xenophobia, Violence, Transphobia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
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
vezreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Super weird in a good way
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Moderate: Transphobia
savvylit's review
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Pew is, at it's core, a fable that questions morality and identity while simultaneously exposing the harmful nature of projection. In just over 200 pages, Catherine Lacey has managed to reveal all of the particular menaces of an isolated community.
The congregants at the center of this novel are righteous and certain of their own goodness. Throughout Pew, their one-sided conversations with the stranger uncover the truth; that good intentions do not beget good actions. In a slow and foreboding fashion reminiscent of the horror genre, Lacey portrays the manipulative side of charity. When generosity was never asked for, who does it really serve and who does it harm?
Furthermore, Catherine Lacey has created a narrator who is unknown and ambiguous to both the book's characters and to readers. In doing so, Lacey has deftly revealed modern society's reliance on forcing individuals to conform to specific ways of being. Readers discover that this form of projection and pressure only creates opportunity for harm and animosity.
Pew is truly a masterwork of a novel that I will never forget. This particular copy was a library loan but I look forward to owning my very own copy. I think Pew would fit perfectly and seamlessly alongside books by Carson McCullers, Flannery O'Connor, and Shirley Jackson on my bookshelf.
The congregants at the center of this novel are righteous and certain of their own goodness. Throughout Pew, their one-sided conversations with the stranger uncover the truth; that good intentions do not beget good actions. In a slow and foreboding fashion reminiscent of the horror genre, Lacey portrays the manipulative side of charity. When generosity was never asked for, who does it really serve and who does it harm?
Furthermore, Catherine Lacey has created a narrator who is unknown and ambiguous to both the book's characters and to readers. In doing so, Lacey has deftly revealed modern society's reliance on forcing individuals to conform to specific ways of being. Readers discover that this form of projection and pressure only creates opportunity for harm and animosity.
Pew is truly a masterwork of a novel that I will never forget. This particular copy was a library loan but I look forward to owning my very own copy. I think Pew would fit perfectly and seamlessly alongside books by Carson McCullers, Flannery O'Connor, and Shirley Jackson on my bookshelf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Outing, Transphobia, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Violence, Hate crime, and Confinement
rosalind's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I was convinced this would be a 5 star read, but the ending was very much not what I expected or wanted. Still, overall a really thought-provoking fable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Transphobia, Medical content, and Violence
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