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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Woah, what a wild, disturbing ride. I love the idea that you can hear echoes of the past if you listen closely to playback of street recordings. And that those echoes can take on a life of their own. Who's the horse and who's the rider? Gives me shivers! I wasn't expecting horror, but I'll take it. I want to space out Kunzru's books, let them percolate. Yum.
Like a pacier Paul Auster ghost story with great discriptions of hipsters, music, New York, privilege and a powerful exhumation of racial horrors.
3.5 stars
This book started off relatively strong, then got really, really weird. Surprisingly, it pulled off a satisfying ending.
This book started off relatively strong, then got really, really weird. Surprisingly, it pulled off a satisfying ending.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Objectively? Not bad.
Subjectively? Disappointing.
The structure, style, themes, and approaches are all similar to his 2020 release Red Pill but less polished and structured. It takes more than 50% of the book to get into the meat of the plot but I'm realizing that this is his style (same thing happened in Red Pill) but the pay off in the end is not as good this time around.
White Tears is a very complex, disorienting story. Sometimes I really did not know what was happening. A lot of that I think is intentional. Kunzru's gift is being able to write about the insidious complexities of race and racism in America (please read Red Pill). But it does not always lend itself to neat story telling.
I'd say read Red Pill first and if you enjoy it pick up White Tears.
Subjectively? Disappointing.
The structure, style, themes, and approaches are all similar to his 2020 release Red Pill but less polished and structured. It takes more than 50% of the book to get into the meat of the plot but I'm realizing that this is his style (same thing happened in Red Pill) but the pay off in the end is not as good this time around.
White Tears is a very complex, disorienting story. Sometimes I really did not know what was happening. A lot of that I think is intentional. Kunzru's gift is being able to write about the insidious complexities of race and racism in America (please read Red Pill). But it does not always lend itself to neat story telling.
I'd say read Red Pill first and if you enjoy it pick up White Tears.
Not what I expected but riveting
The story of Carter and Seth ( I rather Charlie Shaw) kept me captivated from beginning to end. The narrative shift in the back half of the book takes some concentration but it's worth the ride.
The story of Carter and Seth ( I rather Charlie Shaw) kept me captivated from beginning to end. The narrative shift in the back half of the book takes some concentration but it's worth the ride.
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found no one to like, to respect, or to even empathize with in the book. I was glad when main characters died off or were injured. I appreciated the twists involving the US South, but found them somehow both predictable and tired. They have been done better by better writers ([a:Victor LaValle|1762294|Victor LaValle|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1280959466p2/1762294.jpg] is the first one that comes to mind).
I get that time was supposed to be hopping back and forth, and thought that was actually pretty well done, but the almost stereotypical way that African Americans post-reconstruction were portrayed just didn't do it for me.
Other parts, specifically the killing at the very end, were great. Real mixed bag with this book. THe name dropping just came across like a bunch of Brooklyn hipsters. Perhaps it was intended to make you dislike the characters. Me, I just disliked the author.
I get that time was supposed to be hopping back and forth, and thought that was actually pretty well done, but the almost stereotypical way that African Americans post-reconstruction were portrayed just didn't do it for me.
Other parts, specifically the killing at the very end, were great. Real mixed bag with this book. THe name dropping just came across like a bunch of Brooklyn hipsters. Perhaps it was intended to make you dislike the characters. Me, I just disliked the author.
This got me hooked from the very beginning for its on point narrative about being a junkie for music. The added bonus of a ghost story wrapped in a contemporary critique of cultural appropriation and exploitation made it a favorite read of this year.