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cantfindmybookmark's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
3.25
fruitbatblues's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
abroadwell's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the voice of Marion, the main character (gay, younger Ojibwe man) and the explorations of traditional Ojibwe belief. The tragic and mysterious loss of the character Kayden is finally resolved through coming to an understanding with the "revenant", a figure from the Ojibwe underworld.
But like some other readers, I found the switches of narrators confusing and probably unnecessary. I don't think the novel gained much from these shifts.
Still, I will definitely look forward to future work from Dennis Staples -- he is a writer to watch.
But like some other readers, I found the switches of narrators confusing and probably unnecessary. I don't think the novel gained much from these shifts.
Still, I will definitely look forward to future work from Dennis Staples -- he is a writer to watch.
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
5.0
I’m a sucker for a story set in Minnesota, and for debut novels. This Town Sleeps did not disappoint! It was stunning. One of my favorite books so far this year! A quick one-sitting read both because of its length (208 pages) and because the story had me hooked.
In This Town Sleeps, you’re getting Indigenous characters, real representation of life on a reservation in the US, Achillean relationships (but this is NOT a romance!), a little mystery, and a splash of the paranormal.
In This Town Sleeps, you’re getting Indigenous characters, real representation of life on a reservation in the US, Achillean relationships (but this is NOT a romance!), a little mystery, and a splash of the paranormal.
livelyghost's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
oakleyloew's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
2.75
caitlintremblay's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved Marion’s story but I do think this novel tried to accomplish too much in just 224 pages. That said, I did enjoy the air of mystery left behind with such a short page count. This was really beautiful and even if it felt really raw at times. Well worth a read.
coffee_and_wool's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
lori_reads_everything's review against another edition
3.0
I feel as though I, like most people, picked this book up due to its uniqueness. I mean, how many other books are centered around a gay Ojibwe man who is quite literally being haunted?
This book is a quick read that is perfect for a rainy day. The story of Marion is entertaining, however, the way the story jumps between characters and back and forth through time can make things confusing and harder to follow. It also felt as though the ending was a bit rushed and didn't get the attention it deserved. To be clear, it's not the way the story ended that I didn't like, but how quickly it happened, and how little the author gave us at the end.
Overall, this book was definitely worth reading, I just felt as though the author was trying to do a lot and maybe not all of it translated in the end.
This book is a quick read that is perfect for a rainy day. The story of Marion is entertaining, however, the way the story jumps between characters and back and forth through time can make things confusing and harder to follow. It also felt as though the ending was a bit rushed and didn't get the attention it deserved. To be clear, it's not the way the story ended that I didn't like, but how quickly it happened, and how little the author gave us at the end.
Overall, this book was definitely worth reading, I just felt as though the author was trying to do a lot and maybe not all of it translated in the end.