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beingzoraa's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Misogyny and Racism
plaidpladd's review against another edition
4.0
This book was surprisingly engrossing. The different POVs, time periods, and narrative styles kept it interesting, and though most of the characters were super unlikeable, they felt realistic.
colindac's review against another edition
4.0
I despised Edgar and the beginning relationship with Fiona as a teenage girl did not set the stage well for me, and put it aside a number of times. Writing is excellent and unusual, and that kept me going.
sop345's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Pregnancy
wendoxford's review against another edition
1.0
I found this experimental (or so it seemed to me) novel incredibly overlong. The main topic is unplanned pregnancies but layered within that is race, culture, relationships, date rape, misogyny and on the list goes.
The narrative changes form in each section of the story's twists. I didn't really like any of them, but the most irritating was of numbered paragraphs attributed to different characters in a guided stream of consciousness. This division (in which reproduction genetics also features) just made me feel that the author was trying for an intellectually clever book to demonstrate his intelligence rather than an engaging read.
Thumbs down from me. Hoping he doesn't reproduce!
The narrative changes form in each section of the story's twists. I didn't really like any of them, but the most irritating was of numbered paragraphs attributed to different characters in a guided stream of consciousness. This division (in which reproduction genetics also features) just made me feel that the author was trying for an intellectually clever book to demonstrate his intelligence rather than an engaging read.
Thumbs down from me. Hoping he doesn't reproduce!
coolgalreading's review against another edition
Trying to figure out how I feel about this
joey1914's review against another edition
4.0
A wild and creative story, it makes you think and you have to piece things together, it lacks a bit of plot though.
lolajoan's review against another edition
5.0
As I started to get into this book, my main impression was that it is very Giller-prize-y. So then I realized that I have a hot take on what makes book-prize-books feel similar: they're like vegetable side dishes. The great ones can be richly creative, decadent, filling and satisfying, and the mediocre ones can be bitter or bland or mushy or just leave you hungry and cold, but they all make you feel like you've done something virtuous and nourishing and self-improving by reading them. They're not junk food.
So, yeah, this one starts out very virtuous and healthy - complex interpersonal relations with at least one unreliable narrator and a setting that is simultaneously precise enough to be evocative and yet vague enough to feel universal.
Then it throws a little spice into the mix with some salacious behaviour and extremely grey morals. Then it starts breaking down the entire idea of language and narrative, which is like putting a layer of delicious decadent cheese on top and baking until bubbly.
The characters and voices are so rich and alive and yet inscrutable, which is good because real people are generally quite lacking in scrutability. The plot is believable and yet kind of cinematic. The settings are largely irrelevant which is kind of odd for a "Canadian" novel - it could be set anywhere, really.
The recurring titular theme (in all its possible definitions) is sometimes obvious and sometimes requires a bit of reflection to see. It's clever without being tooooo clever.
I chuckled a few times. I bawled at the end.
So, yeah, this one starts out very virtuous and healthy - complex interpersonal relations with at least one unreliable narrator and a setting that is simultaneously precise enough to be evocative and yet vague enough to feel universal.
Then it throws a little spice into the mix with some salacious behaviour and extremely grey morals. Then it starts breaking down the entire idea of language and narrative, which is like putting a layer of delicious decadent cheese on top and baking until bubbly.
The characters and voices are so rich and alive and yet inscrutable, which is good because real people are generally quite lacking in scrutability. The plot is believable and yet kind of cinematic. The settings are largely irrelevant which is kind of odd for a "Canadian" novel - it could be set anywhere, really.
The recurring titular theme (in all its possible definitions) is sometimes obvious and sometimes requires a bit of reflection to see. It's clever without being tooooo clever.
I chuckled a few times. I bawled at the end.
bethiclaus's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
anywiebs's review against another edition
4.0
This was a book that really got me for it's writing. I loved how the narrative changed, how that impacted your understanding of the story and reading of the characters.
I wasn't all in love with the characters, they just felt there to support the writing, but that mostly doesn't bother me, but in this book I noticed their story would not have interested me in any other form.
I also felt that I was reading a story of manipulative male assholes that refuse to take responsibility for their actions and naive females who turned out to evolve and become capable adults.
Overall I recommend this book to people who love when writing is more than just one sentence following another. If oyu are a plot driven reader and not a fan of experimental writing, this is not for you.
I wasn't all in love with the characters, they just felt there to support the writing, but that mostly doesn't bother me, but in this book I noticed their story would not have interested me in any other form.
I also felt that I was reading a story of manipulative male assholes that refuse to take responsibility for their actions and naive females who turned out to evolve and become capable adults.
Overall I recommend this book to people who love when writing is more than just one sentence following another. If oyu are a plot driven reader and not a fan of experimental writing, this is not for you.