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scribblinginthemargins's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
Written in stunning prose-poem style and explores climate crisis/anxiety, "prepping" for permacrisis and holding lightly to everyone and everything. I almost felt like this was a Buddhist-style philosophy text rather than a novella with the wistful doom of the main character discussing how her life will look once the collapse of the ecosystem hits.
This book felt particularly poignant in it's depictions of "prepping" and living in a constant state of anticipation of the next crisis/permacrisis considering the wake of the COVID pandemic. It sits uncomfortablely with the reader and the poem-like fragments leave enough gaps to fill in with your own sense of unease.
Nothing much happens in the book - there is no story or character arc - but I feel that adds to the sense of anticipation/crisis. Like waiting for something catastrophic to happen. I was intrigued by the co-dependent relationship between the main character and her brother and potentially something else could've come from this rather than constant stasis.
This book felt particularly poignant in it's depictions of "prepping" and living in a constant state of anticipation of the next crisis/permacrisis considering the wake of the COVID pandemic. It sits uncomfortablely with the reader and the poem-like fragments leave enough gaps to fill in with your own sense of unease.
Nothing much happens in the book - there is no story or character arc - but I feel that adds to the sense of anticipation/crisis. Like waiting for something catastrophic to happen. I was intrigued by the co-dependent relationship between the main character and her brother and potentially something else could've come from this rather than constant stasis.
Moderate: Drug abuse
el_viral's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Just beautiful. I picked this up at a charity shop as I thought it looked good and it didn't disappoint! Dreamy prose bordering on poetry, with a sense of existential dread articulated with skill.
Moderate: Addiction and Drug abuse
danimcthomas's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Heavy. The author uses the tenseness after the 2016 election and climate anxiety as a metaphor of sorts for the human condition.
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Xenophobia
applesodaperson's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book was okay, I just felt it didn’t have much to say or very much of a point. Like the characters were mildly interesting, but after reading it, I feel like I instantly forgot most of it. I liked some of the commentary about environmentalism, but again I feel like it didn’t go very deep with that commentary.
It also focused a ton on the main character’s scummy deadbeat brother, who I got very sick of very quickly. After he walked out on his wife and newborn baby, I stopped rooting or caring for him as a character. This book was just pretty boring and forgettable.
Listened to on Libby.
It also focused a ton on the main character’s scummy deadbeat brother, who I got very sick of very quickly.
Listened to on Libby.
Minor: Drug abuse
younganna's review against another edition
medium-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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Drug abuse
schorlett's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness and Addiction
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Drug use
enoemo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't know, I just thoroughly enjoyed this. It felt special in style and construction, and yet it was in a way easy to understand and really tapped into the anxieties of my generation in a funny, sometimes hyperbolic, sometimes awfully real way. It's not like an awful lot happens, but sometimes I really crave that type of read. Definitely recommend.
Here's what I texted my partner after he asked what I thought about the book: "5 star read -
nothing really happened in the book but i really liked the writing style and construction. really comfy way of reassuring my climate anxiety"
Here's what I texted my partner after he asked what I thought about the book: "5 star read -
nothing really happened in the book but i really liked the writing style and construction. really comfy way of reassuring my climate anxiety"
Moderate: Drug abuse and Addiction
othersociologist's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Drug abuse
becksus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed most of the musings within, related to some and found many amusing. However, I don't feel this was as profound as it was described as on the back cover. This feels like a mixture of The Harpy and No One is Talking About This without really reaching the level of either. Maybe I'm just so used to world ending stuff that this no longer feels very fictional.
Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse
monahed's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Mental illness and Drug abuse