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strawberrymivvy's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book really crept up on me, took a while to get into as the writing style takes a bit of getting used to, but it ended up being a really intriguing story of how families are formed, familial loyalties and ties etc
The chapters play on themes of DNA and family as well, all very clever
I will look for more work by this award winning author
The chapters play on themes of DNA and family as well, all very clever
I will look for more work by this award winning author
edgeworthstan2000's review against another edition
3.0
Weirdly light despite some dark subject matter but I think it worked. I didn’t mind the experimental writing styles except the superscript/subscript interspersed conversations. I really liked the teenage Army. Not so much the adult one. In fact I was surprised by how he behaved as an adult, but I don’t know if that’s on the book or on me.
maiajanssen's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
bonnybron's review against another edition
Did not find it funny at all. Trying to move away from books where all male characters are despicable and treat women like garbage…
Added some content warnings, some from the few pages I read and some from reading other people’s reviews. Reading reviews made me wish I did like it because I’d be interested to see how the story descends into cancer. But I am not willing to push forward.
Added some content warnings, some from the few pages I read and some from reading other people’s reviews. Reading reviews made me wish I did like it because I’d be interested to see how the story descends into cancer. But I am not willing to push forward.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Grief
buffna's review against another edition
5.0
I feel Ian Williams transferred his poetic sensibilities and skill for writing with startling structure, rhythm, drama, love, character, and HUMOUR, into a 400+ page book. YESSS. This is a book like no other. There are layerrrs. You just keep peeling the onion forever as you cry laughing. I didn't know about the DNA mitosis structure metaphor when I first read it and it didn't affect my reading. I was still engrossed. The diverse cast of characters (with characters you'll hate, be frustrated with, sad for, and laugh at), the bold experimental storytelling style and voice—yes, you'll have to reread sections sometimes to understand it and it's FUN—are so well done. If you want a conventional novel, you might not enjoy this book. Ian Williams is changing the landscape of literary fiction with a groundbreaking, playful novel, bridging the distance between poetry and prose.
niaforrester's review against another edition
5.0
This one, I think, would have gotten five stars from me just because of its sheer ambitiousness. I'm not a fan of experimental fiction, and frankly would probably not have requested this from NetGalley if I knew that's what this was. But, surprisingly, it worked for me on just about every level: superb character development, an intriguing premise, mind-blowingly courageous, and filled with humor, insight and multiple levels of emotional resonance. It also didn't hurt that there were subtle treatments of every social issue I am most attentive to: race, class, gender, immigration ... and of course, love. The complicated imperfection of the characters, and the realistic portrayal of their personal and interpersonal journeys over a span of about two decades kept me fully engaged, even through those parts where the author's stylistic flourishes had me scratching my head.
Some people will absolutely hate this book, especially if their preference is straightforward, just-the-facts-ma'am narrative. This book doesn't give you that. Like, at all. It jumps between and over time, uses only the most necessary and sparing punctuation, and doesn't shy away from dialect. It is a challenging book in that way, but still, an amazing accomplishment that reminds me just how limitless the bounds of storytelling can be if you're a writer who is as unafraid as Ian Williams clearly is.
Some people will absolutely hate this book, especially if their preference is straightforward, just-the-facts-ma'am narrative. This book doesn't give you that. Like, at all. It jumps between and over time, uses only the most necessary and sparing punctuation, and doesn't shy away from dialect. It is a challenging book in that way, but still, an amazing accomplishment that reminds me just how limitless the bounds of storytelling can be if you're a writer who is as unafraid as Ian Williams clearly is.
bookishjesse's review against another edition
5.0
Reproduction is outstanding! As in, I will be out standing around telling everyone to read this book. I work in a library. There's a lot of people to tell.
I LOVE the way Williams writes. I laughed out loud so many times and found myself often surprised. I love the way he constructs this narrative. Stories are told and retold and revised and sort of told and most importantly, not told.
I love these flawed and wounded characters and the truths they embody. I love Army's dry wit and Felicia's stoic approach to everything. Everything.
I did not love Edgar; I really enjoyed not enjoying Edgar, though, I must say.
Mostly, I loved the story and the consistency of the characters. Williams doesn't concern himself with redemption or other tropes that commonly weigh down "family narratives." Every characters is allowed to be. Just to be.
Did I mention I love this book?! No, not clear enough? Reproduction is objectively excellent and subjectively wonderful. I LOVE this book.
I LOVE the way Williams writes. I laughed out loud so many times and found myself often surprised. I love the way he constructs this narrative. Stories are told and retold and revised and sort of told and most importantly, not told.
I love these flawed and wounded characters and the truths they embody. I love Army's dry wit and Felicia's stoic approach to everything. Everything.
I did not love Edgar; I really enjoyed not enjoying Edgar, though, I must say.
Mostly, I loved the story and the consistency of the characters. Williams doesn't concern himself with redemption or other tropes that commonly weigh down "family narratives." Every characters is allowed to be. Just to be.
Did I mention I love this book?! No, not clear enough? Reproduction is objectively excellent and subjectively wonderful. I LOVE this book.
bookishbrittany's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-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
jenniechantal's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
I really liked the first 1/3-1/2 of this book that focused mostly on Felicia/Edgar and baby Army, but around the point Army grew up it started to drag for me. In the end I forced myself to finish it, which I rarely do. If a book isn't working for me I put it down; there are so many other books to read! But I wanted something from the story and was obviously hoping I'd get it in the end.
Thinking about it now, a few days after finishing it, I realize that I became so annoyed and angry with the ways heteronormative gender shaped the relationships in this book. I mean, the men in this book...I wanted to get the hell away from all of them! They didn't change or grow, or learn to feel SOMETHING about their awful treatment of the women in their lives. I guess I got tired of how realistic it was and lost patience with these men. If there had been more of Felicia and Heather in the in the second half I think maybe the story wouldn't have gotten so bogged down for me.
I did love the different styles of story telling (except the last one with two conversations happening at once, that was AWFUL). And I think Williams is a very talented writer for being able to keep me invested in the characters despite hating most of them. I'm curious to see his future work but I won't be recommending this one.
I really liked the first 1/3-1/2 of this book that focused mostly on Felicia/Edgar and baby Army, but around the point Army grew up it started to drag for me. In the end I forced myself to finish it, which I rarely do. If a book isn't working for me I put it down; there are so many other books to read! But I wanted something from the story and was obviously hoping I'd get it in the end.
Thinking about it now, a few days after finishing it, I realize that I became so annoyed and angry with the ways heteronormative gender shaped the relationships in this book. I mean, the men in this book...I wanted to get the hell away from all of them! They didn't change or grow, or learn to feel SOMETHING about their awful treatment of the women in their lives. I guess I got tired of how realistic it was and lost patience with these men. If there had been more of Felicia and Heather in the in the second half I think maybe the story wouldn't have gotten so bogged down for me.
I did love the different styles of story telling (except the last one with two conversations happening at once, that was AWFUL). And I think Williams is a very talented writer for being able to keep me invested in the characters despite hating most of them. I'm curious to see his future work but I won't be recommending this one.
kelseyhip's review against another edition
1.0
No. Just no. Never have I loathed a character as I have loathed Edgar Gross, and that is maybe the one compliment i can give this confusing, convoluted book.