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lokroma's review against another edition
4.0
In a novel that won the Pen/Faulkner award and that reads like a poem, seventeen year old Luisa and her friend Tomás run away by bus from Mexico City to Oaxaca in search of Ukrainian dwarfs that have escaped from a Russian circus. Sea Monsters is a beautifully written series of magical, intertwined dreamscapes that wanders through late 80s music and technology and lush ocean landscapes, and where a young woman's imagination repeatedly bumps up against reality. Nothing is what it seems. Not the men she meets, not the beach where she sleeps, nor even the dwarfs that she is looking for.
Plot and character development are not the point here; language is. Aridjis examines the juxtaposition of what is expected and what is actual in carefully choreographed writing that reads like her description of a fugue: "...a melody consisting of opposing elements that interweave, two independent tunes that eventually join up and once merged turn into fugitives, fugitive notes that escape through the bars of their musical stave." In addition to the novel's structure this description could be applied to Luisa's relationships with Tomás, with the merman, with her father, and with her magical world.
Plot and character development are not the point here; language is. Aridjis examines the juxtaposition of what is expected and what is actual in carefully choreographed writing that reads like her description of a fugue: "...a melody consisting of opposing elements that interweave, two independent tunes that eventually join up and once merged turn into fugitives, fugitive notes that escape through the bars of their musical stave." In addition to the novel's structure this description could be applied to Luisa's relationships with Tomás, with the merman, with her father, and with her magical world.
ashod's review against another edition
4.0
1980's Mexico through the eyes of a young woman who loves Joy Division? On paper, this is my dream book. The writing is undeniably beautiful but the story lacks, wait for it, Substance. Maybe that's fine.
analuisadiez's review against another edition
2.0
Súper meh! No lo odie por completo pero creo
No aporta mucho, sin historia, sin crecimiento de personajes y hasta sin enanos ucranianos.... lo recomendaría solo si quieren medio perder el tiempo con algo súper casual
No aporta mucho, sin historia, sin crecimiento de personajes y hasta sin enanos ucranianos.... lo recomendaría solo si quieren medio perder el tiempo con algo súper casual
spauffwrites's review against another edition
3.0
A brief, poetic novel, light on plot, but full of teenage angst and strange characters. I think I would have enjoyed it more as an audiobook, being able to just listen and immerse myself in the dreamlike beach setting. If you think of it more as a poem or a series of short vignettes, rather than a novel, it is easier to digest.
nica00's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the impactful bits of philosophical observations shared by the teenage protagonist. The adolescent thought process felt authentic to the time & setting...also liked how her naive and ideal focused perspective twisted into disenchanted realizations about those in her world. And the atmosphere was vivid & well set.
What I didn’t like were the rambling bits. It felt like the author took the quiet pace (that worked at first) too far at times & I found myself skimming the pages after the climax during “father’s tedious lecture”.
I will try books from this author again.
What I didn’t like were the rambling bits. It felt like the author took the quiet pace (that worked at first) too far at times & I found myself skimming the pages after the climax during “father’s tedious lecture”.
I will try books from this author again.
jufira42's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jennylimmy's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
I must thank my book club for helping me digest this book. As it progressed, I kept losing the thread of it — possibly because the plot is comprised of a series of minor events, capturing the feeling of the repetitive, ill-defined “vacation” the protagonist takes as an act of freedom/rebellion.
The book has some enjoyable moments; my favorite is the story of the three girls who swam straight into dangerous waves — a story of self-annihilation as freedom that shines in contrast to the protagonist’s formless days. However, this book was ultimately not for me because the protagonist bored me. Which may have been intentional, because she is a teenager? And perhaps indicates that I have little patience for that stage of youth.
The book has some enjoyable moments; my favorite is the story of the three girls who swam straight into dangerous waves — a story of self-annihilation as freedom that shines in contrast to the protagonist’s formless days. However, this book was ultimately not for me because the protagonist bored me. Which may have been intentional, because she is a teenager? And perhaps indicates that I have little patience for that stage of youth.
jwlarkin's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
A slightly dream-like story of a young woman journeying through Mexico with creepy men. A drastic shift in perspective and tone at the end makes it interesting.
lamw's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0