Reviews

Tremor by Teju Cole

gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition

DNF-ing at 36%

I think this is a soft DNF but its unlikely I will return. The plotless-ness of this particular brand of literary fiction isn't my thing BUT I will say, that this novel reminds me a little of Zadie Smith's On Beauty in the way that it analyzes Blackness within multiple spheres of life, but a lot more contemporary/intersectional, and without the fatphobia and xenophobia. 

buzzabelle's review

challenging informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

cooperck's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

lucygoss's review

challenging reflective 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? No

4.5

jlfgarris's review

reflective

2.0

anjalikrishnakumar's review

reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I wish there was more. I don’t think I’ve ever recognized a book the way I recognized this one. I have never been more conscious of the ability of art to transcend our imaginary boundaries. Human beings are limitless and the world is cruel, these can both be true, they are both true.

duimalot's review against another edition

Maybe its the translation. Or maybe its just not for me. For me there's too much happening. Just when I get the part about Tunde's relationships we're all of the sudden back in historyclass. 

criticalgayze's review

4.5

A slim book that I felt was a little overstuffed with ideas, not all of which I completely understood including, but whose voice and thoughts and intelligence I appreciate.

martha_g's review

I couldn't tell voices apart or where in the world the setting was. Some people think this form of story telling is a strength of the book but I was frustrated. Nevertheless, there were some insights about history and art that I thought were very good and some time in the future I may try this book again. In these days of short attention span, this isn't the best time for me to struggle with a book.

renbuhhannah's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0