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socrates90's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Rape
billiethecrook's review against another edition
Subject matter wasn’t for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Child abuse
Moderate: Child abuse
essjay1's review
3.0
Sofia Laguna is so good with the Australian landscape - her description of place in this novel is wonderful, and her characters are always so nuanced. A depressing book in more ways than one, the plot is predictable, there is a lot of repetition in the second half of the book - something I have never been a fan of, but some of the passages throughout are outstanding. This is about predatory sexual assault on children and it’s a tough read in that respect.
hannahbanks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Such a challenging read. I wanted to look away so many times. Laguna has a way of breaking my heart and leaving me powerless to stop her. Whilst I loved this book and am glad I've read it, I need to read something happier next.
cactuswildflower's review
3.0
I loved the first half of this book, introducing us to Lawrence and describing his childhood and relationship with his brother Paul. I was totally transported to another time. The second half of the novel was hard going though, and at times utterly painful to read. I’m still pondering how I feel about the book overall? I’m glad to have read to the end, although for me there wasn’t the level of closure or reconciliation I wanted, and so I find myself continuing to mull over events in my head. Perhaps this is best considering the subject matter, and was the authors intention all along? It’s not a topic that can be neatly addressed and Sofie Laguna has not shied away from the tough stuff here at all.
boundtwobooks's review
3.0
https://bound2books.co/2021/04/07/where-is-my-motivation-and-what-i-have-been-reading-lately/
Infinite Splendours by Sofie Laguna is a TOUGH read. There is sexual violence in the book, so definitely make sure you are in the right headspace for that. I found it to be extremely confronting at times, and had to give myself little breaks after some pretty harrowing passages.
The novel is set in Victoria and the writing about the scenery and beautiful mountains. The story follows two brothers, Laurie and Paul growing up in a post-WWII farmstead with their mother. After their uncle visits, Laurie’s life changes forever. After the assaults, Laurie develops a stutter and becomes a shut in.
The thing that I still don’t know how to understand about the book is the portrayal of Laurie, especially as an adult. It seems that Laurie is incapable of having healthy boundaries with himself and other boys. The boundaries of his body were violated by his uncle and therefore it seems difficult for Laurie to understand how to love himself, and others. I also wonder if his relationship with the boys in the novel, including his neighbour’s son, David, that Laurie is hoping to find his lost childhood? It is clear that Laurie never got the help he needed. I guess it was just particular of that time – rape happened often, but it was just never talked about.
Laurie is portrayed as a sexual predator and this is where I struggle with the book. When so many people are not coming forward about sexual assault, and in particular cases of incest, does Laurie’s character actually harm sexual assault survivors? By having Laurie sexually assaulted as a child and then almost turning into the same thing as an adult, is Laguna making it worse? I know that it isn’t an author’s job to necessarily write perfect characters all the time, but this has just bugged me ever since I read it.
Infinite Splendours by Sofie Laguna is a TOUGH read. There is sexual violence in the book, so definitely make sure you are in the right headspace for that. I found it to be extremely confronting at times, and had to give myself little breaks after some pretty harrowing passages.
The novel is set in Victoria and the writing about the scenery and beautiful mountains. The story follows two brothers, Laurie and Paul growing up in a post-WWII farmstead with their mother. After their uncle visits, Laurie’s life changes forever. After the assaults, Laurie develops a stutter and becomes a shut in.
The thing that I still don’t know how to understand about the book is the portrayal of Laurie, especially as an adult. It seems that Laurie is incapable of having healthy boundaries with himself and other boys. The boundaries of his body were violated by his uncle and therefore it seems difficult for Laurie to understand how to love himself, and others. I also wonder if his relationship with the boys in the novel, including his neighbour’s son, David, that Laurie is hoping to find his lost childhood? It is clear that Laurie never got the help he needed. I guess it was just particular of that time – rape happened often, but it was just never talked about.
Laurie is portrayed as a sexual predator and this is where I struggle with the book. When so many people are not coming forward about sexual assault, and in particular cases of incest, does Laurie’s character actually harm sexual assault survivors? By having Laurie sexually assaulted as a child and then almost turning into the same thing as an adult, is Laguna making it worse? I know that it isn’t an author’s job to necessarily write perfect characters all the time, but this has just bugged me ever since I read it.
nicehotcupoftea's review
5.0
Sofie Laguna knows that humans are complex creatures, all with frailties. She handles a taboo subject beautifully.
jaclyn_sixminutesforme's review
I felt a sense of whiplash reading Laguna’s INFINITE SPLENDOURS—I don’t think I’ve gone from loving the writing and narrative so much to being so deeply uncomfortable with the direction I felt coming on (and that eventuates!).
The writing of the abuse cycle in this felt like it shifted significantly in the second half of the book. I think it needed to for obvious reasons as the plot shifted Lawrence’s role in it all. As readers we are directed to pivot from a readily empathetic perspective, to one where the bounds of that empathy are tested considerably.
That said, it is an examination of abuse that I think intentionally stirs the waters into this murky moral ambiguity—I think what Laguna is doing with Lawrence’s character is more nuanced than testing “likeability” and how able a reader is to connect with a protagonist. There’s a tragedy in feeling like you start to *understand* motivations and perspectives as time goes on, the confusion within Lawrence’s prose mirroring that which I think the reader is invited to reckon with. Was my discomfort with it as a reader what Laguna was aiming for here… I’m not sure. I think there was a lot of patterning in the plot and expressions most noticeably that drew these obvious connections as Lawrence ages, but for me there felt like there was some predictability and feeling like I could see the hand Laguna was dealing to the reader.
If you’ve read it I’d love to hear what you thought?
The writing of the abuse cycle in this felt like it shifted significantly in the second half of the book. I think it needed to for obvious reasons as the plot shifted Lawrence’s role in it all. As readers we are directed to pivot from a readily empathetic perspective, to one where the bounds of that empathy are tested considerably.
That said, it is an examination of abuse that I think intentionally stirs the waters into this murky moral ambiguity—I think what Laguna is doing with Lawrence’s character is more nuanced than testing “likeability” and how able a reader is to connect with a protagonist. There’s a tragedy in feeling like you start to *understand* motivations and perspectives as time goes on, the confusion within Lawrence’s prose mirroring that which I think the reader is invited to reckon with. Was my discomfort with it as a reader what Laguna was aiming for here… I’m not sure. I think there was a lot of patterning in the plot and expressions most noticeably that drew these obvious connections as Lawrence ages, but for me there felt like there was some predictability and feeling like I could see the hand Laguna was dealing to the reader.
If you’ve read it I’d love to hear what you thought?
celiapie's review
5.0
Really should change the blurb for this on Goodreads- it details way too much of what happens and ruins the way she builds the story creates such a sense of foreboding.
busyreading's review
4.0
Infinite Splendours by Aussie author Sofie Laguna is a wonderful, but also heartbreaking story. I’m quite familiar with this author having read her previous books which I thoroughly enjoyed. To say I really enjoyed this book seems to be the wrong words as the contents of this book are truly heartbreaking and some would say even quite disturbing at times. I need to warn readers if you don't like reading about child sexual abuse in books, this may not be a book for you.
The descriptions throughout this novel were so good and I think the author did an excellent job in writing these parts of the book. This is a book that some readers will enjoy while others will not because of the content. Overall for me it was a well-written book, but sometimes I felt as if my heart was really breaking and I was left feeling quite sad. Recommended.
The descriptions throughout this novel were so good and I think the author did an excellent job in writing these parts of the book. This is a book that some readers will enjoy while others will not because of the content. Overall for me it was a well-written book, but sometimes I felt as if my heart was really breaking and I was left feeling quite sad. Recommended.