You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
I have absolutely no clue what was going on in this book, both thematically and in terms of plot. Based on other reviews I read (desperately trying to figure out what this book was about after reading) I know that there is a lot of substance here, but I couldn't figure it out. This was especially frustrating to me because this is the first time a book has left me understanding absolutely nothing. All the plot points of this novel seemed a big intangible and disconnected, and we were so disconnected from the main character that I didn't really care what happened. I'm giving it 2 stars because the writing was interesting and I would feel bad giving it any less because I can see where it does have merit (I just couldn't understand it). Overall, I felt like I was floating through this book without anything tethering me to the narrative, and I left it feeling nothing more than confusion.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
a quietly moving examination of the past, beautiful and lyrical
A lot of this book is engaging, but everything that went before is kind of ruined by a surprise, fantastical ending that erases the character we've invested in. This is followed, at the very end of the book, by three complicated, precise paragraphs of the author's family tree telling us which of the author's relatives inspired the book. Mind you, the author has never inserted himself into the story up until this point. He's built a sometimes engrossing tale of a character in a time and place, and then he pulls the rug out from under it all with his "look at me" moment at the end.
Even if you leave off the baffling last couple pages, it also become apparent as you read that this is a queer character written by a straight author. The character's homosexuality is treated at a distant, almost clinical reach, while lots of ink is spilled over his unlikely obsession with a local girl. His ostracization and punishment are meted out unfeelingly, and even the character himself accepts them as natural. Then, just when he's given some sort of happy ending, he is made to, literally, disappear. That's how straight men like to write their queers- interesting when they're suffering, accepting their suffering as natural, and disappeared if they ever find fulfillment.
Even if you leave off the baffling last couple pages, it also become apparent as you read that this is a queer character written by a straight author. The character's homosexuality is treated at a distant, almost clinical reach, while lots of ink is spilled over his unlikely obsession with a local girl. His ostracization and punishment are meted out unfeelingly, and even the character himself accepts them as natural. Then, just when he's given some sort of happy ending, he is made to, literally, disappear. That's how straight men like to write their queers- interesting when they're suffering, accepting their suffering as natural, and disappeared if they ever find fulfillment.
There's too much going on in this book considering how short it is. The author tries to squeeze in the art of film, the 1918 flu epidemic, gay erotica, a leper hospital, and World War I - and he even includes a "where are they now" epilogue. There are so many things to focus on that it's difficult to focus on any of them.
Gay prostitution, influenza, the birth of cinematic surrealism, and getting fucked by a moustached sailor during a repertoire of Scandinavian national anthems: this book is everything.
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I didn't like this nearly as much as The Blue Fox. The beginning was graphic (unnecessarily so, and would prevent me from loaning it out to all but the closest of friends) and I didn't understand the ending at all. Aren't all fictional characters imaginary? One of my favorite parts of Blue Fox is how the ending tied everything together. This ending was ephemeral, and not in a good way.
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
[COMENTÁRIO]
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌈❤️
"Moonstone the boy who never was
Sjón
Tradução para o inglês de Victoria Cribb
Um livro perfeito. Simples. Uma história que nos abre caminhos para uma intensa refelxao sobre a memória e o passado.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEVXci8MImy/?igsh=MW8wOWpkaml4N3I4ag==
(li de 30/12/2024 a 02/01/2025)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌈❤️
"Moonstone the boy who never was
Sjón
Tradução para o inglês de Victoria Cribb
Um livro perfeito. Simples. Uma história que nos abre caminhos para uma intensa refelxao sobre a memória e o passado.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEVXci8MImy/?igsh=MW8wOWpkaml4N3I4ag==
(li de 30/12/2024 a 02/01/2025)