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teaselkie's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Mental illness, Dysphoria, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Death
Minor: Religious bigotry
kate_lemer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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
5.0
I think this will be one of those rare books that you can - and want to - read again, and again, and it will still bring you something new. Not only because it will help you understand it more, but because it really does have so many layers.
It is startlingly difficult to read - but I didn't mind that one bit, it's not making the reading experience unpleasant. You have to work for it - for the meaning. It's not handed to you on a silver platter like so many contemporary books do, which I appreaciate.
It is brilliantly written. Throughout the book, there is a slight sense of sarcasm, subtle enough that almost everything is open to interpretation - are those bitter memories peaking out? Is it whining? I'd say that I lack a certain level of cultural context to understand some of the plot properly, especially the whole bit about the Irish Independence.
Either way, it is a very, very clever book. There is sadness gushing from beneath each naive and optimistic thought put down. And sometimes, the resolute decision to remain optimistic is simply heartbreaking. It is an unmerciful book, harsh. Even in the very beginnging. The contrast between nature and beauty and the harshness of industry and technology. And the end? Where you can feel Pussy spiralling, and you spiral with her.
A masterpiece.
It is startlingly difficult to read - but I didn't mind that one bit, it's not making the reading experience unpleasant. You have to work for it - for the meaning. It's not handed to you on a silver platter like so many contemporary books do, which I appreaciate.
It is brilliantly written. Throughout the book, there is a slight sense of sarcasm, subtle enough that almost everything is open to interpretation - are those bitter memories peaking out? Is it whining? I'd say that I lack a certain level of cultural context to understand some of the plot properly, especially the whole bit about the Irish Independence.
Either way, it is a very, very clever book. There is sadness gushing from beneath each naive and optimistic thought put down. And sometimes, the resolute decision to remain optimistic is simply heartbreaking. It is an unmerciful book, harsh. Even in the very beginnging. The contrast between nature and beauty and the harshness of industry and technology. And the end? Where you can feel Pussy spiralling, and you spiral with her.
A masterpiece.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
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