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nreyno's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia, Torture, Xenophobia, Trafficking, War, Confinement, Death, Deportation, and Racism
withlivjones's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A really interesting read, definitely not what I expected just from reading the back of the book, but I would honestly recommend going into any Ali Smith book not knowing anything about its contents. I loved the first part of the book, with the non-chronological exploration of the relationship between Richard and Paddy. I also found Brit’s character fascinating to read - she is definitely not a likeable character but she is a very interesting one, and there are many real people like her who simply close themselves off when presented with something that challenges their worldview. Ali Smith is a master of character creation - she makes these very unique and specific characters that shouldn’t meet on a normal day, and then forces them together.
I have two main issues with the book. The first is that I didn’t really understand the character of Florence, although perhaps she’s not meant to be understood. Her powers of invisibility as explained in the book made sense to a point, but past that she seemed overpowered in a way that made everything very convenient for the other characters. The second issue is that the book just doesn’t feel seasonal enough. The “present day” portion of the story happens in October, which isn’t even in Spring! Something I really loved about Winter was that the bleakness of the writing perfectly matched the tone of the season, and the fact that the main story takes place over Christmas helps with that too, and I just didn’t get that same feeling in this book.
I still love Ali Smith’s writing, and she told a very important story in this book, but I’m hoping the rest of the series will improve from this instalment.
I have two main issues with the book. The first is that I didn’t really understand the character of Florence, although perhaps she’s not meant to be understood. Her powers of invisibility as explained in the book made sense to a point, but past that she seemed overpowered in a way that made everything very convenient for the other characters. The second issue is that the book just doesn’t feel seasonal enough. The “present day” portion of the story happens in October, which isn’t even in Spring! Something I really loved about Winter was that the bleakness of the writing perfectly matched the tone of the season, and the fact that the main story takes place over Christmas helps with that too, and I just didn’t get that same feeling in this book.
I still love Ali Smith’s writing, and she told a very important story in this book, but I’m hoping the rest of the series will improve from this instalment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, Deportation, and Grief
Moderate: Sexism, Death, and Racism
maggiefae's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Racism
Moderate: Suicide attempt
sketchydelusion's review
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Excrement
Minor: Rape, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual assault, War, Self harm, Torture, and Suicidal thoughts
itsbumley's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Suicide, Trafficking, Classism, Colonisation, Deportation, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
deedireads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Spring is my favorite of Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet so far. It’s a deeply felt novel with smart, resonant social commentary.
For you if: You love characters that feel real enough to break your heart.
FULL REVIEW:
I’m currently reading Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet in order, season by season (with @caseys_chapters!). I’ve liked them all, but I think Spring is my favorite so far.
This one focuses on two main characters: Richard, an older man who was once a moderately successful film director, mourning the loss of his closest friend; and Brit, a corrections officer for the quartet’s fictional security company (which is also involved with border security). Richard has decided there’s nothing left for him, and Brit finds herself traveling with a remarkable young schoolgirl named Florence.
I think this one felt a little less abstract in terms of how it related to the season it’s named for, which helped. It sang with positioning of spring against the idea of borders and migration and the kind of impossible, barely-there hope that always exists despite the brokenness of the world. It might also be that the social commentary felt a little fresher (since the book is newer); I was particularly struck by Brit and the momentum that keeps her from opening her eyes, much less taking action.
But even considered on its own, the power of Ali Smith’s prose is (as always) somehow unnameable but also unmistakeable, and the characters broke my heart. This was deeply felt and effective, and I can’t wait to read Summer.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Spring is my favorite of Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet so far. It’s a deeply felt novel with smart, resonant social commentary.
For you if: You love characters that feel real enough to break your heart.
FULL REVIEW:
I’m currently reading Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet in order, season by season (with @caseys_chapters!). I’ve liked them all, but I think Spring is my favorite so far.
This one focuses on two main characters: Richard, an older man who was once a moderately successful film director, mourning the loss of his closest friend; and Brit, a corrections officer for the quartet’s fictional security company (which is also involved with border security). Richard has decided there’s nothing left for him, and Brit finds herself traveling with a remarkable young schoolgirl named Florence.
I think this one felt a little less abstract in terms of how it related to the season it’s named for, which helped. It sang with positioning of spring against the idea of borders and migration and the kind of impossible, barely-there hope that always exists despite the brokenness of the world. It might also be that the social commentary felt a little fresher (since the book is newer); I was particularly struck by Brit and the momentum that keeps her from opening her eyes, much less taking action.
But even considered on its own, the power of Ali Smith’s prose is (as always) somehow unnameable but also unmistakeable, and the characters broke my heart. This was deeply felt and effective, and I can’t wait to read Summer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Confinement
crazytourists_books's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
The third book of the quartet that I am reading and my least favourite so far.
Again, I loved the writing style, the artistic references (consistent in all three books), the sweetness that's lingering in the pages, and Smith's effort to address brexit and the worl wide humanitarian/migration crisis. But there were a few holes in the story, which I am sure were deliberate but left me unsure, wondering, and some surreal descriptions that I didn't particularly enjoyed.
Now I wait, till summer comes!
Again, I loved the writing style, the artistic references (consistent in all three books), the sweetness that's lingering in the pages, and Smith's effort to address brexit and the worl wide humanitarian/migration crisis. But there were a few holes in the story, which I am sure were deliberate but left me unsure, wondering, and some surreal descriptions that I didn't particularly enjoyed.
Now I wait, till summer comes!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
soupy_twist's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Racism
amelreads's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Racism, and Confinement
Moderate: Trafficking, Police brutality, Violence, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Colonisation
Minor: Torture and Sexual assault
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Like it better than Winter and Autumn purely because of the last third of the book. The last 75 pages were amazing! My rating would be higher if the first 250 pages were at the same level.
Smith tries to say so much by saying so little, and in my opinion it doesn’t work for her-it just ends up being a confusing story with nothing happening plot wise. I didn’t like most of the characters. I don’t know what it is about Smith’s characters but I never like them
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Racism, Terminal illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Sexual content and Rape
Minor: Cancer