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h_bs26's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
Absolutely bizarre. Massive reading slump where I was distracted by other content, but I pushed through to finish this book. Pleased to have read it because the setting was immersive and it was a challenge. Wouldn’t re-read because it was too black for my tastes
magnoliaa_jpg's review against another edition
1.0
This book is absolutely disgusting. I understand what the author tries to do: explaining grief and suffering through the eyes of a child, but the language was incomprehensible (sure, it’s supposed to mimic the train of thoughts of a child but it’s very overdone. Too many metaphors and so many horrible, disturbing thoughts)! Also, the amount of detailed cruelty and sexual abuse is… why? Just why? What’s the reason behind it? To me it felt like it was all just for the shock value of it and I was absolutely disgusted. I love a book that makes me uncomfortable and squeamish, but this was not it. Never again (I can’t believe I had to read it for a literature class).
bigbookmaus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
1.5
Not surprised this is a 2020 winner, YALL CLEARLY HAD NO TASTE
scrunchieboi's review against another edition
1.0
constipated dissociative child only speaks in metaphors
ratalice's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
bla_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
moonilism's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-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
2.25
Basically: another depressing literary fiction novel exploring grief.
What sets it apart though is how (I don't think "gross" or "fucked up" are the correct terms) depraved it is.
Told through the voice of Jas, a 10-to-12-year-old who, to put it lightly, lets her intrusive thoughts win for almost 300 pages, we are taken through the aftermath of a family tragedy. It is pretty heartbreaking that the death of her older brother (not a spoiler) is what sets off the chain of her family structure falling apart. Harsh winters, overbearing religion, lack of affection from her grieving parents and another cruel brother do not make for a pleasant life on their remote Dutch cattle farm. I was just taken aback by how all of this led toa <i>lot</i> of animal cruelty and death, sexual experimentation with siblings and the rather shocking sexual abuse of the main character's friend by her brother . This book must have resonated with many people for it to have won the Booker Prize, but I wasn't sure what to make of it, really. Sometimes it just felt like it was being overly dismal for the sake of it. I think that if we maybe got to experience more of the family's life before Matthies' death in the first chapter I would have felt a bit more of a connection to the grief and what was lost. The writing was good, but not enough to make me like the book or move me. More thoughts that I'll just leave under spoilers:
- Her frequently mentioned belief that there were Jewish people living in their basement... I just.. why??
- Those poor fucking toads.
- The ending was honestly a long time coming and I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner.
What sets it apart though is how (I don't think "gross" or "fucked up" are the correct terms) depraved it is.
Told through the voice of Jas, a 10-to-12-year-old who, to put it lightly, lets her intrusive thoughts win for almost 300 pages, we are taken through the aftermath of a family tragedy. It is pretty heartbreaking that the death of her older brother (not a spoiler) is what sets off the chain of her family structure falling apart. Harsh winters, overbearing religion, lack of affection from her grieving parents and another cruel brother do not make for a pleasant life on their remote Dutch cattle farm. I was just taken aback by how all of this led to
- Her frequently mentioned belief that there were Jewish people living in their basement... I just.. why??
- Those poor fucking toads.
- The ending was honestly a long time coming and I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner.
augustasmit's review against another edition
2.0
Beautifully written, but after the scene with Belle and Obbe I had to stop reading since I didn't want to find out any more of the horror that is presented in this book.
vacationrick's review against another edition
dark
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest and Sexual content