Reviews

Winter by Ali Smith

marivincenzi's review against another edition

inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

storia's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

kathrynjbrand's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

4.25

renja's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

- Mielenkiintoinen ja yllättävä

- Erityisesti kirjan alkuosa on mukaansatempaava ja taitavasti kirjoitettu, myöhemmin alun tiukka ote lukijasta hieman löyhenee

ble227's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

4.5

patbfer's review against another edition

3.0

A breathtaking, tough reflection on mental health issues, mentioning a very incendiary and emotional reality for immigrants, due to Brexit. It isn’t easy to read, probably reflecting on the season it is inspired on - we have a very weird feeling throughout the book, and it has to be intentional. Can’t wait to read the other “Seasonal” books.

lieslearwood's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

katytatishvili's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mayasorel's review against another edition

challenging inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jess_mango's review against another edition

4.0

This is the 2nd book in Smith's seasonal quartet. I read the first book, Autumn, well, back in autumn and liked it. And since it is now winter, it seemed like the perfect time to read Winter. I bet you can't guess what I'll be reading this spring? ;)

Nature-blogger, Art, treks out to his mom's country manor to spend Christmas with her. It ends up being a bizarre gathering with lots of flashbacks to earlier times in Art's life and his mom Sophia's life. Some of the best moments were the scenes featuring Sophia and her sister Iris. They are both polar opposites and quarrel a lot but clearly have a soft spot for each other. They will be arguing then randomly break into song.

As usual, Smith's writing is stellar. The book is a series of vignettes with ponderings on nature, art, treatment of immigrants and refugees and more.

My random brain dump of thoughts on this book:
More social commentary on Brexit (and Trump). Very current and aware. Clever, offbeat, engaging. Lots of word-play and literary references. Good stuff!

This book counts towards the Popsugar 2020 Reading Challenge prompt #39: a prompt from a past PopSugar challenge (for which I picked the 2019 prompt to read a book in the season it takes place).