Reviews

Never Did the Fire by Diamela Eltit

mariandy's review

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

2.5

The writing/translation was really good, but reading this was an absolute chore. Not at all what I was expecting.

kelciilou's review

1.5

In theory I love this book. 
But actuality it was exhausting in a way that eroded any possible enjoyment. 

skbooker's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

katy_bee's review

challenging dark slow-paced

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

2.5

This was a book club read and I probably would have abandoned it if it wasn't!
The prose is quite dense and deliberately ambiguous, it definitely requires concentration to follow. 

Even after finishing, elements of the plot remain obscure and I found the experience of reading frustrati g as the characters are trapped and bitter.

Nonetheless it was interesting to read something very different to my normal style and it has got me curious about the period in history in Chile

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Child death, Pregnancy, Grief, and Excrement

Minor: Car accident, Abortion, Gun violence, and Police brutality

fehla's review against another edition

4.0

Texto que carrega na forma a vertigem política de uma época de utopias reprimidas com crueldade pelo Estado. Situados em um plano etéreo (um quarto, uma cama beckettiana), como que semivivos, os integrantes de uma célula militante (ou os seus fantasmas) emergem da voz da narradora, que os faz ressuscitar pela memória, incompletos, inconsistentes, mas ainda assim sanguíneos, pulsantes, "esperando a chegada inescapável da história."

othersociologist's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child death and Violence

lucypipper's review against another edition

4.0

«El tiempo se repliega en su propio tiempo». Y en este tiempo dilatado y recogido al mismo tiempo cobran fuerza los espacios y sentir el cuerpo y salirse del propio cuerpo y sentir el cuerpo del otro.

katzen's review

4.0

Wish I had more time to chew on this but unfortunately my library loan was coming to an end so I had to rush through a little lol. Love the way the prose and narrative structure keep you on your feet throughout, I truly think the writing in this is some of the most innovative stuff I’ve read all year. Very excited to read the translation novel companion and hopefully get some more insight into this great book.

tronella's review

dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

amylureads's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25