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romeri's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Picked this up randomly in a second-hand bookstore — it is exactly what I needed.
I have been thinking about the end of the world, the apocalypse:
“Razors. Pills. Guns. Little vignettes. Dioramas of the departed and their remains. I am the only ticket-holder at a suicide theme park.” (55)
“I close my eyes and try to breathe but the end of the world is in my throat.” (80)
But after all, despite all the murder, cannibalism, immolation and decapitation, it is about love:
“I say to the crow, ‘Say something.’
The crow says, ‘Zipper. Toast. Glass.’
It sounds like love.” (38)
The image of the narrator holding a walking stick with her head on it will forever stick with me. This book will forever stick with me.
I have been thinking about the end of the world, the apocalypse:
“Razors. Pills. Guns. Little vignettes. Dioramas of the departed and their remains. I am the only ticket-holder at a suicide theme park.” (55)
“I close my eyes and try to breathe but the end of the world is in my throat.” (80)
But after all, despite all the murder, cannibalism, immolation and decapitation, it is about love:
“I say to the crow, ‘Say something.’
The crow says, ‘Zipper. Toast. Glass.’
It sounds like love.” (38)
The image of the narrator holding a walking stick with her head on it will forever stick with me. This book will forever stick with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Violence, Cannibalism, and Death
Minor: Miscarriage
libraryoflanelle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Review CW: Minor references to body horror in the paragraph starting with “at multiple points”, skip if this is a no-go for you. This is also your reminder to always check CWs, I have added broad TW/CWs to my StoryGraph review.
"It Lasts Forever, and Then It’s Over" is a poetic, impactful, and very strange little book about mortality, love, loss, grief, and everything in between. These themes are explored in incredibly abstract, visceral, and at times, skin-crawling narratives. Yet, somehow, through all of that, Anne manages to retain a profound through line of coherence and depth.
I made the mistake, or wise decision depending on how you look at it, of starting this one when I couldn’t sleep late one night... which definitely added to it feeling like a fever dream because I’m still fairly sure I dreamt this book.
Did I mention how poetically written it is…!? I can guarantee that once I get my hands on a physical copy it will end up just being one long 132-page underlined quote. Anne is an exquisite writer and I cannot wait for what the future may hold.
Our story traces the protagonist's fragmented journey through the afterlife, where she encounters both familiar and unfamiliar acquaintances, navigates through unsettling situations, reflects on living memories, and contemplates profound existential questions.
I went into this one knowing almost nothing, and I would highly recommend you do the same, only if it is safe for you to do so, of course. I ended up re-reading this one immediately after finishing it and picked up on so much more the second time round! I will be reading this one again once I have my hands on a final copy.
At multiple points, I found myself asking questions I never thought I would, thoughts like, “surely it’d decompose in your chest even if you yourself are not decomposing?” and “why couldn’t you just stitch it back on if you were that desperate to keep it with you?”. Contrastingly, other thoughts included: “that’s so true, everything comes from death, we can’t have new life without death” and “hmm, true…what is the time between an end and beginning…?” If these thoughts, and the fact that they were only some of those that came to me while reading this 132-page book, don’t intrigue you, I don’t know what will…
I loved this one so much more than I expected to, especially upon reading it a second time and seeing the broader picture clearer. I will be thinking about this book for a long time to come.
This is definitely not a book for everyone, but if you are at all intrigued and are one to usually enjoy weird but reflective books (with a touch of gore), I’d recommend you give it a go!
Thanks to NetGalley and Fitzcarraldo Editions for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Cannibalism, Body horror, Death, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
happyknitter2020's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Huge thanks to Fitzcarraldo & Netgally for allowing me to read this eArc pre publication for my honest review.
This feels like a unique blend of Seven Moons Of Mali's 'undead' soul caught between worlds & Camilla Grudova's writing raw, graphic darkness, mixed with deeper religious references & a lyrical, rhythmic writing style.
Let your mind go, follow the undead mind & appreciate what this author has achieved. Totally understand why this is another Fitzcarraldo's fantastic publication.
I read & underlined paragraphs several times...
'Did you ever do something you never told anyone? Something shameful. Or something perfect...So you decided you would keep it in, to protect yourself. One way or another...You decided this is the one thing I will die with. I won't be alone because I will have this.'
'I notice that I am having an idea instead of hearing. And when I notice the idea, I instantly stop having it. Like when you are not deeply asleep and you become less deeply asleep because of a click in your brain and then you were suddenly aware that you were more deeply asleep than you knew but also aware that even now you not yet exactly awake.'
Appreciated the raw grief that poured through the pages, which provided an opportunity to pause & reflect on life & the deep traumatic impact of loss.
This feels like a unique blend of Seven Moons Of Mali's 'undead' soul caught between worlds & Camilla Grudova's writing raw, graphic darkness, mixed with deeper religious references & a lyrical, rhythmic writing style.
Let your mind go, follow the undead mind & appreciate what this author has achieved. Totally understand why this is another Fitzcarraldo's fantastic publication.
I read & underlined paragraphs several times...
'Did you ever do something you never told anyone? Something shameful. Or something perfect...So you decided you would keep it in, to protect yourself. One way or another...You decided this is the one thing I will die with. I won't be alone because I will have this.'
'I notice that I am having an idea instead of hearing. And when I notice the idea, I instantly stop having it. Like when you are not deeply asleep and you become less deeply asleep because of a click in your brain and then you were suddenly aware that you were more deeply asleep than you knew but also aware that even now you not yet exactly awake.'
Appreciated the raw grief that poured through the pages, which provided an opportunity to pause & reflect on life & the deep traumatic impact of loss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Murder, Death, Grief, Gore, Violence, and Torture
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