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lizbutcher's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
satch's review against another edition
3.0
I never really felt I was in the book. It seemed one dimensional and not very fleshed out.
innerweststreetlibrarian's review
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this surprise find from a lifeline book fair. It touches lightly on similar themes about the power of language to shape society that have been explored in a few other books I’ve read recently, such as The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Word Exchange.
This is quite different, and to me, much better. I enjoyed the mystery of the codex, the weird (and somewhat cynical) performance art elements, the links to Australian mythology, global exploration, the plight of refugees in Australia and the really beautiful descriptions of what it’s like to translate between languages.
It’s such an interesting mix of themes, that surprisingly to me really fit well together.
I don’t think the ending was as satisfying as it could have been, but it’s a really good read all the same.
This is quite different, and to me, much better. I enjoyed the mystery of the codex, the weird (and somewhat cynical) performance art elements, the links to Australian mythology, global exploration, the plight of refugees in Australia and the really beautiful descriptions of what it’s like to translate between languages.
It’s such an interesting mix of themes, that surprisingly to me really fit well together.
I don’t think the ending was as satisfying as it could have been, but it’s a really good read all the same.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Racism, Suicide, and Colonisation
bristoni74's review
3.0
This was interesting - I felt is started strong and I liked the mix of books, bookshops, art and history. As it progressed I wasn't sure if Cameron was such a reliable narrator, as if what she says is actually happening or if its in her own mind. I think the story was political and meant to be a metaphor about refugees and how we as a society are losing our compassion and empathy. I was taken for the ride and found it thought-provoking - until the ending! It was abrupt and disappointing for me.
jetsilver's review
4.0
I liked what this book was doing more than I liked how it did it, by which I mean its conceit is bloody brilliant and chilling and entirely correct, and at the same time it isn't the most engagingly written book. The idea is in the way of the execution, but also it doesn't matter because it makes its very good points in a very baroque way that I think is pretty effective, even while some readers will hurl the book across the room in frustration. It does not explain itself to you, and for me, that's completely fine.
Everyone should read it, and it's going to be confusing to a greater or lesser degree depending on where a person sits in their political leanings and familiarity with Australian political and colonial history - particularly from the Tampa scandal onward. Or any version of Western colonial history, quite possibly.
Extra props for the best, most subtle and damning sketch of how frustrating 'I don't see race' is to everyone who doesn't get that luxury.
I'll be thinking about this one for a while.
Everyone should read it, and it's going to be confusing to a greater or lesser degree depending on where a person sits in their political leanings and familiarity with Australian political and colonial history - particularly from the Tampa scandal onward. Or any version of Western colonial history, quite possibly.
Extra props for the best, most subtle and damning sketch of how frustrating 'I don't see race' is to everyone who doesn't get that luxury.
I'll be thinking about this one for a while.
staraice's review
3.0
What did I just read? Very clever concept, but I'm not sure if the pacing quite worked. There were so many interconnecting parts that built up slowly and avalanched into a strange (yet not entirely unexpected) tumble of events in the last third.
The idea that erasing words from a lexicon is the same as erasing ideas from the global consciousness, and then even awareness of physical truths in front of the viewer's eyes is spectacular. And scary. I kind of want to go back and see whether the effect were more noticeable earlier on in the work, however it feels like the symptoms of the conspiracy to erase refugees (was that word ever used even in the beginning?) just snowballed in the last 60 pages or so.
There are many unanswered questions here, which is odd given how predictable some of the text is and how early on the reader picks up the idea of what Cameron is unwittingly a part of in the 'Excise My Heart' project, though the full scope isn't apparent until later.
A very interesting debut.
The idea that erasing words from a lexicon is the same as erasing ideas from the global consciousness, and then even awareness of physical truths in front of the viewer's eyes is spectacular. And scary. I kind of want to go back and see whether the effect were more noticeable earlier on in the work, however it feels like the symptoms of the conspiracy to erase refugees (was that word ever used even in the beginning?) just snowballed in the last 60 pages or so.
There are many unanswered questions here, which is odd given how predictable some of the text is and how early on the reader picks up the idea of what Cameron is unwittingly a part of in the 'Excise My Heart' project, though the full scope isn't apparent until later.
A very interesting debut.
wtb_michael's review
3.0
Noir-y debut, filled with intrigue and dread with a powerful political message at its heart. I wasn't always compelled to keep reading and the mystery was laid on a bit thick at times, but this is a bold and original book - definitely an author to watch.
ell_double_u's review
4.0
Really interesting, weird and intense, kinda dystopian mystery. A little on the confusing side but rounded up because i feel I will be chewing over this for a while to come.
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