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mikekelly4815's review against another edition
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I admire that the author took a pretty experimental approach to writing this novel. I also think she had a pretty unique perspective on mental illness (at least in the universe of books I've read).
But also, wow, the tone of this book was cloying at times (especially when "the book" narrator spoke directly). Some of the characters also felt underdeveloped or just a tad too cutely drawn (e.g. the homeless marxist poet who teaches the neighborhood children about art and loving the world, or the corporate employee turned zen monk who is helpless in the face of reverse psychology).
Also, the sense of place in the book was a bit weird. It seems like the author wanted to set the book in Vancouver but also in America? I think because she has a connection to the library but also because she wanted to show the issues with the American healthcare system and the chaos from America's elections? Idk. I think this approach was sort of indicative of how the book wants to show us a side of the world that isn't portrayed much in literature but didn't have the texture needed to make the book's world feel real.
But also, wow, the tone of this book was cloying at times (especially when "the book" narrator spoke directly). Some of the characters also felt underdeveloped or just a tad too cutely drawn (e.g. the homeless marxist poet who teaches the neighborhood children about art and loving the world, or the corporate employee turned zen monk who is helpless in the face of reverse psychology).
Also, the sense of place in the book was a bit weird. It seems like the author wanted to set the book in Vancouver but also in America? I think because she has a connection to the library but also because she wanted to show the issues with the American healthcare system and the chaos from America's elections? Idk. I think this approach was sort of indicative of how the book wants to show us a side of the world that isn't portrayed much in literature but didn't have the texture needed to make the book's world feel real.
vivian_m_anderson's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.5
it's hard to figure out my thoughts on this book. it is definitely good--fun, creative, concept if rather convoluted at times, and a new take on perspectives--but it also read a bit like a fanfiction
keovi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
2.5
han2's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
shanayau's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I don't think I've ever experienced a book like this and it has forever left its mark on my heart.
elenareads's review against another edition
I didn't care about the characters. That's not quite it. The depiction of the characters made me angry. They are not characters, they are caricatures. Annabelle is a fat border - all her action are affected by the fact that she is either fat or a holder or both. The extend of her personality is fat and harder, beyond that she had no inner thoughts. I spent now so much time with her but I learned nothing about her, about what drives her and motivates her beyond fat, horder, oh yeah, and truly third place, being a mom.
Benny is just a kid who is sick. Again no inner thoughts, no motives, no hopes. He's barely there to have things happen to someone.
The Aleph is literally a manic pixie dream girl. Imagine, in this day and age. Again, we learn nothing about her inner world.
B-man is a Russian understood to be unhaused character. He got an accent. No, I mean, Ozeki took time to write down an English phonetical version of what a Hollywood east European character sounds like. You know, half German, half Slavic, half Italian. Again, amazing, in this day and age. Does it add any depth to the character, in case the reader could not imagine a Russian? I works argue no
There's are just better things to read out there
Benny is just a kid who is sick. Again no inner thoughts, no motives, no hopes. He's barely there to have things happen to someone.
The Aleph is literally a manic pixie dream girl. Imagine, in this day and age. Again, we learn nothing about her inner world.
B-man is a Russian understood to be unhaused character. He got an accent. No, I mean, Ozeki took time to write down an English phonetical version of what a Hollywood east European character sounds like. You know, half German, half Slavic, half Italian. Again, amazing, in this day and age. Does it add any depth to the character, in case the reader could not imagine a Russian? I works argue no
There's are just better things to read out there
wietse111's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinerend boek. Benji is 12 jaar als hij zn vader verliest in een tragisch ongeluk, en je volgt zijn leven de jaren daarna. Hij hoort stemmen van de objecten om hem heen, en praat met het boek. Dat laatste is het interessantste gedeelte van het boek. Het boek zelf is ook een karakter.
Mooi geschreven boek, met vooral echt hele goede karakters. De moeder, die zelf ook worstelt met depressie en verzamelzucht was een highlight, maar ook Benji en Alice zijn erg goed.
Mooi geschreven boek, met vooral echt hele goede karakters. De moeder, die zelf ook worstelt met depressie en verzamelzucht was een highlight, maar ook Benji en Alice zijn erg goed.
discoball_z's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bronski's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautiful story about grief, loss, and mental illness narrated by a book. I’m not sure it needed to be as long as it was, but the character development is wonderful and the writing is poetic and layered. Well deserving of the Women’s Prize.