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amaranth_wytch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Ableism, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
Minor: Infertility, Bullying, Child death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Self harm
nurse's review against another edition
3.0
amazing cover, wtf book. i still dont know what happend 100%
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
An urban fantasy that will appeal to those who take pleasure in language and narrative voice, and in thinking about big issues. In a world where some people are born "Freak" (with animal parts; our narrator, 18-year-old Matthew, has lion-feet and fish scales on his back) and others are born or become "Sick" (mentally ill), where should the lines between human and not human be drawn? Between actions that are nonconforming, and those that are unconscionable? Between hiding to be safe, and hiding to keep from growing? Between love and need, especially when the two conflict?
Difficult to get into, initially, because the narrator was born and grew up in "Safe," an underground community separate from the normal world "Above," and doesn't know enough about "Above" (i.e. our world) to know what Abovers would need to have explained to understand his. But worth the effort, especially in its consideration of the challenges of mental illness through the lens of fantasy.
Am very curious about people's thoughts about Corner...
Difficult to get into, initially, because the narrator was born and grew up in "Safe," an underground community separate from the normal world "Above," and doesn't know enough about "Above" (i.e. our world) to know what Abovers would need to have explained to understand his. But worth the effort, especially in its consideration of the challenges of mental illness through the lens of fantasy.
Am very curious about people's thoughts about Corner...
christajls's review against another edition
5.0
Originally reviewed on Christa's Hooked on Books
The blurb on the cover of Above tells us that it “pulls off the rare trick of being convincing and utterly magical at the same time” and I can't think of a way to sum up my feelings about this book better than that.
Above takes us deep underground. Down to where it is Safe. Where Teller, Ariel and all the other fabulous characters in this book go to get away from the prejudice and cruelty of life Above. The place “above” is Toronto. Whether its a futuristic or paranormal Toronto I'm unsure. Whatever it's supposed to be aside, it feels real. It feels like the Toronto I know and experience every day but from a much, much different perspective.
As much as the setting of this novel seemed incredibly real, the beautiful and at times breath-taking prose made it seem absolutely magical and enchanting. The writing takes on an almost lyrical or poetic quality and at times you really have to work to understand what's going on in the story. I appreciated this style however and often found myself reading passages aloud to whomever was around me just because they were so beautiful I just had to share them.
I don't know at what point it hit me that this was so much more than a fantasy novel. This is a social commentary and it's one that we should be listening to. The people of Safe are Freaks, they're Beasts, in some cases they're even Sick. They don't “belong” Above. People Above want them to conform to what's normal and when they can't be normal, they lock them up and perform all sorts of atrocities on them. I took this as a commentary on how we treat the homeless and the mentally ill – or just anyone who doesn't fit into our idea of what a good society should look like. This story really moved me and it really made me want to do something! (Check out the links at the end of this post).
I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Leah Bobet had produce an amazing piece of fiction that can be enjoyed by anyone – young, old, fantasy lover or not. Above is smart, well written and provides a captivating look at some of our societies most marginalized.
The blurb on the cover of Above tells us that it “pulls off the rare trick of being convincing and utterly magical at the same time” and I can't think of a way to sum up my feelings about this book better than that.
Above takes us deep underground. Down to where it is Safe. Where Teller, Ariel and all the other fabulous characters in this book go to get away from the prejudice and cruelty of life Above. The place “above” is Toronto. Whether its a futuristic or paranormal Toronto I'm unsure. Whatever it's supposed to be aside, it feels real. It feels like the Toronto I know and experience every day but from a much, much different perspective.
As much as the setting of this novel seemed incredibly real, the beautiful and at times breath-taking prose made it seem absolutely magical and enchanting. The writing takes on an almost lyrical or poetic quality and at times you really have to work to understand what's going on in the story. I appreciated this style however and often found myself reading passages aloud to whomever was around me just because they were so beautiful I just had to share them.
I don't know at what point it hit me that this was so much more than a fantasy novel. This is a social commentary and it's one that we should be listening to. The people of Safe are Freaks, they're Beasts, in some cases they're even Sick. They don't “belong” Above. People Above want them to conform to what's normal and when they can't be normal, they lock them up and perform all sorts of atrocities on them. I took this as a commentary on how we treat the homeless and the mentally ill – or just anyone who doesn't fit into our idea of what a good society should look like. This story really moved me and it really made me want to do something! (Check out the links at the end of this post).
I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Leah Bobet had produce an amazing piece of fiction that can be enjoyed by anyone – young, old, fantasy lover or not. Above is smart, well written and provides a captivating look at some of our societies most marginalized.
krish_'s review against another edition
4.0
Above is a deeply human tale. Bobet takes human problems, human hates, human sadnesses and disappointments, and human hopes, and wraps them up in a jarringly sparse, backwards prose about an underground community of Freaks, who wish for nothing more than to be left alone.
Above is a challenge, evidenced by the numerous reviewers who've abandoned ship before they ever set sail. Which is a shame, because while this may be categorized under paranormal and science fiction, it's really no more than a disguise. Bobet's story hits much closer to home than might be expected.
The prose. It is the gift and curse. The dialect is disordered and requires deciphering. Basic rules of grammar does not apply here. Our protagonist, Matthew, is a young man born underground, in Safe. A Freak-built safe-house for those who have gills, lion's feet, and crab claws; for those who speak to ghosts, who turn into bees, and who turn into shadows. The language is theirs; it is for them to use, and us to understand. It is specifically distinct of Matthew, who does not know above-ground talk. He grew up in darkness and isolation and so his words are altered; he is both innocent and unrefined in the way he thinks and describes.
Bobet blurs the lines in speech structure, and that is why it is difficult to join her rhythm, because you are constantly re-reading to re-confirm if what you understood is really what was meant. It isn't lyrical, but blunt - short. And yet, at times, it hits the point harder than anything you've read.
The manner in which the supernatural aspect of this novel was presented is interesting. No explanation is given as to how these Freaks came about. There is simply the society, and in this society, some have genetic disorders. This downplays the fact that these people are creatures instead of Normal. It grazes over their maladies and conditions. Because what Bobet focuses on is their plight. It's their pain that is sad, not that they were born different.
The emotional crux of this story is belonging. These people have been mistreated, bullied as children, cast out as adults. Some were surrendered by their own family, some by their lovers. They've dug their way underground, underneath the life of Above, to find shelter and comfort. When that is taken from them, they disperse into chaos and they panic because they are exposed. But it isn't just characters with deformation. Bobet incorporates cultural and racial prejudice, maltreatment (in multiple forms) towards patients of mental disorder, and the moral discussion over appropriate medical mandate.
Matthew may appear bland and almost like an Everyman, but only because he isn't as flavoured in ways that make other central characters entertaining or memorable. He is rather a quiet hero. He doesn't ask for applause or girls gushing over his noble looks. He stands for himself and his principles, and that is enough in my book. Matthew, or Teller as he's also known, is the Tale keeper of his people. He is a living, breathing storyteller, and it is his responsibility to pass on the histories of their struggles as well as their achievements. He represents duty and stalwartness, always longing for home and determined to restore it for his people. Mainly, perhaps, because he had not experienced being wronged. Because this also explores the bitter side of persecution. The fact that not everyone comes through the other end in acceptance and understanding. It talks about the hate and the anger that blinds one against their injustice, and the eventual price one is in danger of paying if one does not let go.
Above carried depth I didn't expect...and truthfully, depth I didn't know it had until I finished. And even more truthfully, more depth than I was probably able to grasp. There are obstacles along the way. Because of the language, some parts were a bit obscure and ambiguous. Ariel was occasionally frustrating - and just like I predicted, she was indeed a beautiful mess. The plot is substantially smaller than the word dystopia makes it out to be. But which, again, lends itself to Bobet's aim of telling a story about ourselves, rather than one about monsters and medical experiments gone awry. It could've been more here, and it could've been more there. It wasn't perfect, it wasn't epic. But much like the Freaks in this book, once you look past the debris, it really isn't all that peculiar.
This review also appears on The Midnight Garden
Above is a challenge, evidenced by the numerous reviewers who've abandoned ship before they ever set sail. Which is a shame, because while this may be categorized under paranormal and science fiction, it's really no more than a disguise. Bobet's story hits much closer to home than might be expected.
The prose. It is the gift and curse. The dialect is disordered and requires deciphering. Basic rules of grammar does not apply here. Our protagonist, Matthew, is a young man born underground, in Safe. A Freak-built safe-house for those who have gills, lion's feet, and crab claws; for those who speak to ghosts, who turn into bees, and who turn into shadows. The language is theirs; it is for them to use, and us to understand. It is specifically distinct of Matthew, who does not know above-ground talk. He grew up in darkness and isolation and so his words are altered; he is both innocent and unrefined in the way he thinks and describes.
Bobet blurs the lines in speech structure, and that is why it is difficult to join her rhythm, because you are constantly re-reading to re-confirm if what you understood is really what was meant. It isn't lyrical, but blunt - short. And yet, at times, it hits the point harder than anything you've read.
He yells, straightens up with a swear that tells me he is the one, he's the one that broke my Ariel, broke her down made her Freak made her scared of sweet words or touching so I had to walk slow and careful, talk soft and always be patient and never just kiss her like I wanted to. Took away her want to be kissed.(That's an easy one.)
The manner in which the supernatural aspect of this novel was presented is interesting. No explanation is given as to how these Freaks came about. There is simply the society, and in this society, some have genetic disorders. This downplays the fact that these people are creatures instead of Normal. It grazes over their maladies and conditions. Because what Bobet focuses on is their plight. It's their pain that is sad, not that they were born different.
The emotional crux of this story is belonging. These people have been mistreated, bullied as children, cast out as adults. Some were surrendered by their own family, some by their lovers. They've dug their way underground, underneath the life of Above, to find shelter and comfort. When that is taken from them, they disperse into chaos and they panic because they are exposed. But it isn't just characters with deformation. Bobet incorporates cultural and racial prejudice, maltreatment (in multiple forms) towards patients of mental disorder, and the moral discussion over appropriate medical mandate.
Matthew may appear bland and almost like an Everyman, but only because he isn't as flavoured in ways that make other central characters entertaining or memorable. He is rather a quiet hero. He doesn't ask for applause or girls gushing over his noble looks. He stands for himself and his principles, and that is enough in my book. Matthew, or Teller as he's also known, is the Tale keeper of his people. He is a living, breathing storyteller, and it is his responsibility to pass on the histories of their struggles as well as their achievements. He represents duty and stalwartness, always longing for home and determined to restore it for his people. Mainly, perhaps, because he had not experienced being wronged. Because this also explores the bitter side of persecution. The fact that not everyone comes through the other end in acceptance and understanding. It talks about the hate and the anger that blinds one against their injustice, and the eventual price one is in danger of paying if one does not let go.
Above carried depth I didn't expect...and truthfully, depth I didn't know it had until I finished. And even more truthfully, more depth than I was probably able to grasp. There are obstacles along the way. Because of the language, some parts were a bit obscure and ambiguous. Ariel was occasionally frustrating - and just like I predicted, she was indeed a beautiful mess. The plot is substantially smaller than the word dystopia makes it out to be. But which, again, lends itself to Bobet's aim of telling a story about ourselves, rather than one about monsters and medical experiments gone awry. It could've been more here, and it could've been more there. It wasn't perfect, it wasn't epic. But much like the Freaks in this book, once you look past the debris, it really isn't all that peculiar.
This review also appears on The Midnight Garden
jmsv45's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out what the hell I just read. I got the impression that it was good, but I was a little too lost to fully appreciate it. I get that Matthew would see no reason to explain certain things, but... Assuming that I know his world is a bad assumption. Nevertheless, the world he lived in was pretty amazing. Terrible, awful place. But when I finally saw it come together, I saw the beauty of it. The beauty that is so clearly displayed on the cover.
There are still so many questions left unanswered. I will continue my review after I've thought about this a little more.
There are still so many questions left unanswered. I will continue my review after I've thought about this a little more.
literaryanna's review against another edition
3.0
More of my reviews can be found on my blog: Literary Exploration
When I first saw this book I was completely hooked. The cover is gorgeous, it sounded incredible, but sadly it didn't really live up to my expectations. While I enjoyed the story enough to want to finish it, I just wasn't sure what was happening most of the time. The dialect had me really confused a lot of the time, and a lot of the time I had to go back and reread what just happened. The characters were somewhat flat, and no one stood out too much, but their stories were interesting to read about. Overall, I wish this story was easier to understand, but I'm glad I took the time to read it.
Matthew, the protagonist (yay a male protag!) was a bit challenging. The entire time all he does is talk about Ari and how in love with her he is, but she never returns the love and it only serves to make him more and more depressed. I just wanted to jump into the book and slap him. I did like the concept of him being a "Teller" and having the stories about each character at the end of each chapter, but the way everyone speaks made it difficult to understand what was happening. The other characters are all pretty one-note, no one really stands out to me. I am writing this review several days after reading the story and I can't remember many names, so that tells you something.
The story itself is definitely an awesome concept, I just wish it had been executed a bit better. My biggest problem with the writing is that it is written in a somewhat strange dialect, sort of reminiscent of Blood Red Road but not executed as well. Also, I had a hard time understanding who was being talked about at certain times, and some characters are referred to as "it" while others have names that are objects. And then some random words are capitalized which makes it difficult to know if that is a person's name or if it's a mistake. However, the story is pretty short at just over 350 pages, and it's fast paced enough that I was kept intrigued. I do wish that it was written a bit differently, but I'm glad I took the time to read it all the way through.
Overall, this was a pretty quick read, and I enjoyed most of it. I don't think I would read something else with this same story line, but I can tell that Leah Bobet is a good writer under all of that mumbo jumbo. I would genuinely like to see her write something else with more modern language so that I could understand it better. I don't think I'd recommend buying this one, but if you have some extra time someday I'd get it from the library, it's a good enough read!
When I first saw this book I was completely hooked. The cover is gorgeous, it sounded incredible, but sadly it didn't really live up to my expectations. While I enjoyed the story enough to want to finish it, I just wasn't sure what was happening most of the time. The dialect had me really confused a lot of the time, and a lot of the time I had to go back and reread what just happened. The characters were somewhat flat, and no one stood out too much, but their stories were interesting to read about. Overall, I wish this story was easier to understand, but I'm glad I took the time to read it.
Matthew, the protagonist (yay a male protag!) was a bit challenging. The entire time all he does is talk about Ari and how in love with her he is, but she never returns the love and it only serves to make him more and more depressed. I just wanted to jump into the book and slap him. I did like the concept of him being a "Teller" and having the stories about each character at the end of each chapter, but the way everyone speaks made it difficult to understand what was happening. The other characters are all pretty one-note, no one really stands out to me. I am writing this review several days after reading the story and I can't remember many names, so that tells you something.
The story itself is definitely an awesome concept, I just wish it had been executed a bit better. My biggest problem with the writing is that it is written in a somewhat strange dialect, sort of reminiscent of Blood Red Road but not executed as well. Also, I had a hard time understanding who was being talked about at certain times, and some characters are referred to as "it" while others have names that are objects. And then some random words are capitalized which makes it difficult to know if that is a person's name or if it's a mistake. However, the story is pretty short at just over 350 pages, and it's fast paced enough that I was kept intrigued. I do wish that it was written a bit differently, but I'm glad I took the time to read it all the way through.
Overall, this was a pretty quick read, and I enjoyed most of it. I don't think I would read something else with this same story line, but I can tell that Leah Bobet is a good writer under all of that mumbo jumbo. I would genuinely like to see her write something else with more modern language so that I could understand it better. I don't think I'd recommend buying this one, but if you have some extra time someday I'd get it from the library, it's a good enough read!
laden_bookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel. An interesting take and distinct voice.
beetree's review against another edition
5.0
A very different narrative voice of poetry and bent words that might take a time to get used but that's just as well because it will stop you from reading too quickly and without thinking. This is a beautiful book where so much about human nature is shown rather than told. It echoes and lingers with you long after you've finished.
I am privileged to count Leah among my friends and I'm so proud of her.
I am privileged to count Leah among my friends and I'm so proud of her.