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swillsy's review against another edition
DNF - I somehow read half of this before giving up. I didn’t have a clue what was happening for most of the book, didn’t particularly like the characters, and wasn’t a fan of the writing style.
spaffrackett's review against another edition
3.0
I will need to reread to process all that takes place. The Iraqui section gets fuzzy. Smart book.
bibliobethica's review against another edition
3.0
The first of the three distinct stories was compelling, but the other two stories didn't seem to connect and didn't have characters that held my interest. Admittedly, I skimmed the 2nd two stories.
jwilly19's review against another edition
4.0
Halliday is a major talent. I found myself annoyed at times by the relationship in the first part of the book, but still compelled to read on. But the shift in the second section is truly remarkable and her ability to inhabit characters is staggering. Without giving anything away, I’m not sure she pulled off anything truly transcendent by structuring the novel in the way she did. But there are some moments of truly transcendent prose and insight in this novel. Looking forward to what she does next.
cwalsh's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars, possibly even 5?
A beautiful book about empathy, influence, and inventiveness... one that has me thinking long after I turned the last page.
A beautiful book about empathy, influence, and inventiveness... one that has me thinking long after I turned the last page.
manaledi's review against another edition
3.0
I liked both of the first two stories and then the third one was just unsatisfying and unnecessary. I would've liked them to be more explicitly linked or separate but this was a tenuous connection that left me meh.
and_abigail's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Very much enjoyed this, particularly the first section. I didn’t understand the link between the two sections until I read some reviews, but I think that is more due to my quick reading and expecting a more traditional and straightforward story than to any flaws in the book.
I think it is an effective critique of the idea that we can only write from our own experience, especially given that Alice’s perspective of her own life and experiences is so minimal, but her description of others’ lives is much more rich. I don’t know how I feel about the age gap relationship … on the one hand there is a clear power imbalance, and yet Alice seems self possessed and controlled and not as though is she being taken advantage of. Perhaps this is because this section is semi-autobiographical. Whatever the case, I thought the relationship was depicted with delicacy and respecting the complexity of such a dynamic.
I wish I had read it slower and understood it better on my own. Will definitely be thinking about it for a while.
I think it is an effective critique of the idea that we can only write from our own experience, especially given that Alice’s perspective of her own life and experiences is so minimal, but her description of others’ lives is much more rich. I don’t know how I feel about the age gap relationship … on the one hand there is a clear power imbalance, and yet Alice seems self possessed and controlled and not as though is she being taken advantage of. Perhaps this is because this section is semi-autobiographical. Whatever the case, I thought the relationship was depicted with delicacy and respecting the complexity of such a dynamic.
I wish I had read it slower and understood it better on my own. Will definitely be thinking about it for a while.
jwolfsthal's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the writing. I loved the characters. It is not clear to me how stories 1 and 2 are connected. I will need some time to live with them.
cariberg's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite reads in a long time. Beautifully written with a wonderful, ingenious structure (although this structure was hard to appreciate until almost the end of the book). I had time for a second read which I'd highly recommend