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sheilareads_'s review against another edition
4.0
I'm truly speechless. After the "second" act, everything changed dramatically. It felt like plummeting down a dark rabbit hole. The novel took a turn I never saw coming. Despite its title, Love, there's little romance within its pages. Carter's writing is brilliant and intricate, showcasing both the depth of her ideas and the precision of her word choices and allusions. I found myself looking up numerous adjectives and references she makes (which I typically wouldn’t bother with), or I would have missed out on their significance if I hadn't.
Her writing is also so clinical, as she describes some of the most macabre scenes I’ve ever read. For instance in the final scene (I don’t want to spoil the book) with the split-scene of Annabel at home, and Lee and Joanne together was surreal. WTF?! The alternating perspectives were mind-blowing to read — who writes like that? It was so withdrawn given that the scene with Annabel was so heavy.
Carter's ability to evoke discomfort was astonishing; what a weirdo (meant in the best possible way!).
Another aspect I adored about the book was delving into the psychology of the characters. The trio are layered, with complex personalities, motivations, and traits. I found myself dissecting their actions, dialogue, thoughts, and interactions with other characters. A mark of a truly exceptional book, in my opinion, is its ability to inspire such deep literary analysis, and this book certainly falls into that category. It's rare for a book to ignite this level of curiosity within me, and this one certainly did.
The afterword was so absurd and witty. I was actually smiling at how clever it was despite how the book ends. I’m so glad I discovered the book in some used book shop and decided to buy it. I'm eager to read more of her work, especially The Bloody Chamber, to explore more of Carter’s twisted imagination further.
Her writing is also so clinical, as she describes some of the most macabre scenes I’ve ever read. For instance in the final scene (I don’t want to spoil the book) with the split-scene of Annabel at home, and Lee and Joanne together was surreal. WTF?! The alternating perspectives were mind-blowing to read — who writes like that? It was so withdrawn given that the scene with Annabel was so heavy.
Carter's ability to evoke discomfort was astonishing; what a weirdo (meant in the best possible way!).
Another aspect I adored about the book was delving into the psychology of the characters. The trio are layered, with complex personalities, motivations, and traits. I found myself dissecting their actions, dialogue, thoughts, and interactions with other characters. A mark of a truly exceptional book, in my opinion, is its ability to inspire such deep literary analysis, and this book certainly falls into that category. It's rare for a book to ignite this level of curiosity within me, and this one certainly did.
The afterword was so absurd and witty. I was actually smiling at how clever it was despite how the book ends. I’m so glad I discovered the book in some used book shop and decided to buy it. I'm eager to read more of her work, especially The Bloody Chamber, to explore more of Carter’s twisted imagination further.
abbie_fisher's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
lottiemorton's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I love Angela carter so much but this story was just not for me, couldn’t stand the characters and didn’t get much from it except bleakness which wasn’t particularly reflective. The only thing keeping me interested was Carter’s (as always) beautiful descriptions and scene setting.
safsunderc's review against another edition
4.5
The horror of loving someone was thrust so sharply onto me reading this, the morbidity of this novel was incomprehensibly potent. I was enthralled entirely by Angela Carter’s immaculately lucid writing style, it felt almost like a fever dream; or, more accurately, a nightmare.
theaurochs's review against another edition
3.0
A bitter and tragic tale of bohemian love, misery, betrayal and paranoia. Carter's otherwordly writing here is employed to magnify the relationships between a man, his wife, and his brother. The three are all equally awful people and the continue to inflict miseries upon each other until the inevitable conclusion.
This is an interesting slice of life, and Carter's prose is excellent as always, this book still falls short of some of her other works.
This is an interesting slice of life, and Carter's prose is excellent as always, this book still falls short of some of her other works.
charlottesilver's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0