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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
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Fitzcarraldo for the eARC of It Lasts Forever and Then it’s Over!
Poetic writing as we follow the narrator on her journey through an apocalyptic world and her own grief. Literary fiction is always 50/50 for me but I was pulled into this story! Poignant moments that had me reflecting and pausing to sit with the questions/observations.
There isn’t much of a plot but the descriptions and inner thoughts of our narrator drove the story, making me not want to put it down!
There isn’t much of a plot but the descriptions and inner thoughts of our narrator drove the story, making me not want to put it down!
I didn’t quite realize this book featured Zombies 🧟♀️ The synopsis used the word “undead” but I think I skimmed over that or forgot before reading it because I was surprised 😅 I don’t typically like zombie stories but I was so intrigued by the writing and the narrator that I actually kind of enjoyed this different type of zombie/undead story!
I’d recommend if you’re intrigued by zombie stories but don’t enjoy excessive blood/gore and want something different in this genre. Also for people who enjoy explorations of grief, lyrical prose, and reflections on human nature 💙
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Blood, Vomit, and Body horror
Minor: Miscarriage and Suicide
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