Scan barcode
alexymoe's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Each chapter can be considered self-contained
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Cancer, and Gaslighting
Minor: Self harm and Body shaming
bethanwx's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is such a beautifully written book, but the narrative feels a bit meandering for me. Baltasar hasn't yet mastered tying her poetic language and significant themes into a clear narrative. I much prefered Boulder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death
Moderate: Transphobia
syd_of_squid's review
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Such a speedy read, some beautiful writing, although reading translation is always difficult, especially when the style of writing is so poetic. Plot is very zeitgeisty - middle class gal dealing with mental health issues with dark humour. Not a lot of plot but some nice writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
charmedlassie's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Sexual content
pickashelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
readingwithlex's review
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
3.5
what a strange little book this was
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual content
courtenaywrites's review
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Baltasar is first and foremost a poet. That much is obvious by the lyrical nature of 'Permafrost'. I have adored everything Baltasar has written, and I am looking forward to her upcoming novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
sharktownwoman's review
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The writing in this book wowed. The content disturbed. The humor was excellent. This was an engrossing read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
literary_nikki's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
It's taken me a few days and a whole other book to digest this book and it's still flitting about my head like the windows screensaver of old. For a novel where the narrator is so utterly consumed by suicidal thoughts, it still somehow manages to be funny and liberating and full of life and I do not have the foggiest idea how she manages it. I suspect poetry runs through Baltasar's veins. Admittedly, I've only read the English translation but I doubt that anything is lost from the original Catalan. It's a journey through the song lyrics you never understood.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts