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bronski's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautiful story about grief, loss, and mental illness narrated by a book. I’m not sure it needed to be as long as it was, but the character development is wonderful and the writing is poetic and layered. Well deserving of the Women’s Prize.
lutecio's review against another edition
2.0
I tried really hard to connect with this book, but after 550 pages, it never really happened. Maybe it was just not my time to read it, but sadly I can't say I have enjoyed it.
kjsears's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
heron_m's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-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
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm, Addiction, and Drug use
Minor: Violence and Sexual assault
afterttherain's review against another edition
3.0
“Inside? Outside? What is the difference and how can you tell? When a sound enters your body through your ears and merges with your mind, what happens to it? Is it still a sound then, or has it become something else? When you eat a wing or an egg or a drumstick, at what point is it no longer a chicken? When you read these words on a page, what happens to them, when they become you?”
dua008's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition
Starts strong, with a bit of a sag 3/4 of the way to the end before ending in a whirlwind. So much I loved; the idea of things speaking, their own desires affecting their personalities and what they speak of. The structure of the book is memorable and unique. The book acknowledges that you are reading, it becomes its own narrator, conversing with Benny, our protagnonist, and holding court about the bookish world.
I think you could read the ending more ambiguously; does it end as neatly as suggested? Or is it delusion? Perhaps there is something darker under the surface.
I think you could read the ending more ambiguously; does it end as neatly as suggested? Or is it delusion? Perhaps there is something darker under the surface.
anniebru's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
chotchki's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mitskacir's review against another edition
4.0
As usual, Ozeki’s writing is engrossing, unpredictable, and a bit didactic. I have to give her huge credit for writing a book about books that I actually really liked. In particular I don’t like books that talk about how magical books are, but this one got me - I bought into it for sure. I particularly was invested in the mother’s story, but found myself a bit bored with Benny’s sometimes, even though his was the more exciting and fantastical. Maybe it’s because the mother was more relatable with her more real-to-my-life problems. This solidified my desire to read anything Ozeki writes.