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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Very weird experience. Got to the end and am really not sure what happened. This book is so "moody" though. I thought this book took place in like the 1600s and then there was suddenly a reference to YouTube. Disarming- confusing. But good, high-brow writing.
This book is about an unnamed narrator who moves in with her disgraced brother in an unnamed European country (near Ukraine?). The two have a disturbing relationship where she is 'obedient' to his will. There is xenophobia from the town citizens who blame strange occurrences on her arrival.
It is unclear whether the narrator caused these events or didn't, as she claims. Perhaps it is a metaphor for the harm her mild disposition and lack of ability to stand up to others causes? Or is she internalizing the xenophobia? The theme of obedience is echoed by the narrator's complicity in an unjust legal pursuit of a lawyer by a large company, and in references to the holocaust. By the end, I didn't find out.
I found the narration dull and unclear. The narrator herself calls this an 'overlong account'. I also hated the way the narrator spoke, which I wasn't sure if it was intentional or not. The use of 'one', 'oneself' and 'indeed' was grating. There were some nice passages but they were few compared to a boring tide of nothing. I'd compare this to Catherine Lacey's Nobody Is Ever Missing or the first half of D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover in that they had glimpses of genius but were mostly somnolent. Most readers will probably not find this worth it.
It is unclear whether the narrator caused these events or didn't, as she claims. Perhaps it is a metaphor for the harm her mild disposition and lack of ability to stand up to others causes? Or is she internalizing the xenophobia? The theme of obedience is echoed by the narrator's complicity in an unjust legal pursuit of a lawyer by a large company, and in references to the holocaust. By the end, I didn't find out.
I found the narration dull and unclear. The narrator herself calls this an 'overlong account'. I also hated the way the narrator spoke, which I wasn't sure if it was intentional or not. The use of 'one', 'oneself' and 'indeed' was grating. There were some nice passages but they were few compared to a boring tide of nothing. I'd compare this to Catherine Lacey's Nobody Is Ever Missing or the first half of D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover in that they had glimpses of genius but were mostly somnolent. Most readers will probably not find this worth it.
holy shit. need to reread, had to google approx 50 words and reread paragraphs 5 times, but ended up loving it. i have so many thoughts
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
I fell psychological abuse. Can't go further.
I gave this book 2 stars solely based on enjoyment. I don’t discourage anyone from reading it tho. I can tell it’s really good, you just have to sit down and spend time with it and analyze it and I wasn’t really in the mood at the time I read it. So maybe one day I will revisit this when I have time to deconstruct it
dark
sad
slow-paced