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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Too many words and not enough story. Similar comments appeared on my English Language report when as an earnest 16 year old I would pore over the thesaurus, gleaning longer and more obscure words to weave into my prose. Unfortunately for me the examiners were looking for an easy read which demonstrated a basic grasp of grammar.
As a reader I want a book that gets my attention, tells me a story or provides some descriptive thread, and either educates, thrills or tugs on emotions. In the case of the 'Lost Children Archive' I was interested in the original set up; the family and how they came to be, the lost children in the southern states and to a certain extent, the collapse of the marriage. But then it went on, and on, and I did not know where it was going. Not naming the characters is an unusual device, and maybe rightly so, as sometimes it was confusing but generally it prevented me from feeling any type of empathy for the characters. There were pages of deviations which did not add to the story or my understanding of the situation. Then I started skipping paragraphs, and one thing leads to another. So sorry, I gave up - it was not the book for me.
As a reader I want a book that gets my attention, tells me a story or provides some descriptive thread, and either educates, thrills or tugs on emotions. In the case of the 'Lost Children Archive' I was interested in the original set up; the family and how they came to be, the lost children in the southern states and to a certain extent, the collapse of the marriage. But then it went on, and on, and I did not know where it was going. Not naming the characters is an unusual device, and maybe rightly so, as sometimes it was confusing but generally it prevented me from feeling any type of empathy for the characters. There were pages of deviations which did not add to the story or my understanding of the situation. Then I started skipping paragraphs, and one thing leads to another. So sorry, I gave up - it was not the book for me.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Violence
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation
Moderate: Child death, Trafficking
Minor: Colonisation
Smart and contemporary, Lost Children Archive is an unconventional Great American Road Trip novel with sobering originality.
Though it starts with a marriage and a family, Lost Children Archive evolves beyond the marital. Each person in the car has packed a box of belongings. Well, the adults (at first). The narrator becomes deeply interested in helping a woman back in New York find her missing refugee daughters. As they drive deeper into the south, her own children become braided into her desire to help. The story really evolves around the objects in the boxes in subtle and major ways. Luiselli has woven these influences into the story in a powerful but complicated way. This was not an easy read for me, but it was extremely captivating and original.
The story climaxes with a powerful single-sentence chapter with stunning perspective changes and intense imagery. In fact, this portion set the story over the top for me despite some of its faults. Luiselli continues to publish unique and inspiring books and I look forward to what she does next.
Though it starts with a marriage and a family, Lost Children Archive evolves beyond the marital. Each person in the car has packed a box of belongings. Well, the adults (at first). The narrator becomes deeply interested in helping a woman back in New York find her missing refugee daughters. As they drive deeper into the south, her own children become braided into her desire to help. The story really evolves around the objects in the boxes in subtle and major ways. Luiselli has woven these influences into the story in a powerful but complicated way. This was not an easy read for me, but it was extremely captivating and original.
The story climaxes with a powerful single-sentence chapter with stunning perspective changes and intense imagery. In fact, this portion set the story over the top for me despite some of its faults. Luiselli continues to publish unique and inspiring books and I look forward to what she does next.
A beautiful tie between history and the present. The author brings together "other" and "us" in a striking way reminding us that we're all the same. Everyone - past, future, present.