Scan barcode
terhangus's review
5.0
Grief without an axis, Harriet says. That's the worst kind.
the juxtaposition between the closing of the library and the romance unfolding here was really beautiful and this is the kind of romance i imagine im in tbh... quiet and soft. i loved the deaf mathematician, she was an amazing character and though i truly love the quartet of librarians (though harriet is my SWEET) and the photographer, damn, i really fell in love w/ her, her thoughts and ideas and who she is.
even tho this book is non-linear u sometimes get that moment where it all clicks and you're just mouthing to yourself "oh. oh"
honestly my only kinda grip is how pretentious the photographer is in his last exhibition we see lol like
Spoiler
he's not even that deep when she dies in that branch of many-worlds damntalso there are veryveryvery important pages on the deafness/hard of hearing issue that will make u smile a lil because of how true it is and how candid the deaf mathematician is about it. my one true bae
Describe to me silence, he asks.
She pulls the cigarette out of his mouth and helps herself a drag before grinding it into the tray. Then she says, I don't know what that is.
kayleyhyde's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I know that it's not really fair to compare an author's works, but I can't help but to compare this to The Lost Daughter Collective, and it doesn't fare well in the comparison. It's similarly beautiful in style and very reflective, but I did not care about the characters, feel as compelled by the themes, or find myself nearly as emotionally impacted.
That comparison aside, this is still a good and interesting book. It explores grief and change. Is change always good? always bad? a little of both? How do we grieve? Unfortunately, I think the book fails to provide an answer for either of these questions, which may be the intention, but it left the book feeling a little too open-ended. I also felt there was an undercurrent of "people don't read these days" that was a bit patronizing (especially the long diatribe about how ebooks are bad... while I was reading this as an ebook).
Overall, a good read, but not really what I was hoping for.
That comparison aside, this is still a good and interesting book. It explores grief and change. Is change always good? always bad? a little of both? How do we grieve? Unfortunately, I think the book fails to provide an answer for either of these questions, which may be the intention, but it left the book feeling a little too open-ended. I also felt there was an undercurrent of "people don't read these days" that was a bit patronizing (especially the long diatribe about how ebooks are bad... while I was reading this as an ebook).
Overall, a good read, but not really what I was hoping for.
peeled_grape's review
4.0
A book about absence and presence, the yes and no of potential. I was particularly taken by the exhibit and its "subtitles" at the end. It's a perfectly pleasant book to read -- although nothing exciting happens, it doesn't drag, and I finished it more quickly than I thought I would.
I wonder why this leans so heavily into stereotype. There are old librarians who all wear bifocals, who shush children constantly, who go drinking when they're sad and it rains when they're sad and all books are replaced by computers because young people never have interest in physical books anymore -- libraries are there for teenagers to have sex in -- and "Strange word, 'library.' What does it mean?" (Which: Isn't there something to be said about the accessibility of ebooks, especially coming from a book that is, to some extent, about that?) This was so present it almost seems exaggerated for a purpose, but I couldn't figure out what that purpose was. It feels boomer-y, in this way, and resistant to change.
I wonder why this leans so heavily into stereotype. There are old librarians who all wear bifocals, who shush children constantly, who go drinking when they're sad and it rains when they're sad and all books are replaced by computers because young people never have interest in physical books anymore -- libraries are there for teenagers to have sex in -- and "Strange word, 'library.' What does it mean?" (Which: Isn't there something to be said about the accessibility of ebooks, especially coming from a book that is, to some extent, about that?) This was so present it almost seems exaggerated for a purpose, but I couldn't figure out what that purpose was. It feels boomer-y, in this way, and resistant to change.
8little_paws's review
5.0
This book is like, quasi poetry. There's a few plots going on, all which have to do with loss and obsolescence. And some really thoughtful stuff about libraries and their place in today's world. I thought this book was really original.
rorikae's review against another edition
4.0
4/5
An engaging novella that delves into grief and libraries. Twining together a love story between a deaf mathematician and a photographer with the story of a group of librarians preparing for their library to close, Drager explores the transition from books to digital, the multiverse theory, and communication. She touches on all of these pieces with grace and I am fascinated to see what else she explores in her other works.
An engaging novella that delves into grief and libraries. Twining together a love story between a deaf mathematician and a photographer with the story of a group of librarians preparing for their library to close, Drager explores the transition from books to digital, the multiverse theory, and communication. She touches on all of these pieces with grace and I am fascinated to see what else she explores in her other works.
More...