Scan barcode
fastasashark's review
2.0
2.75/5 stars
This was a hard book to rate for me. I was excited to read it and really wanted to enjoy it more than I did. Its not that I actively disliked it so much that it was "just ok" for me. I think the main problem for me was that a lot of the book felt limited to very repetitive internal dialogues. It jumped a lot between characters, but it felt like those characters were constantly thinking and hammering home the same thoughts over and over again. I found it made it hard for me to focus or get into the story because it made it feel like not much was happening beyond the repetition of the same thoughts for each character.
I do respect what the author was trying to do, but just the way the story was told didn't really engage me, I guess. But it seems lots of other folks liked it, which is great. I found once Grark entered the story, things started to pick up a bit imo. And I did think the way the story lines concluded was one of its strengths.
I liked the interview with the author at the end, and feel like I did learn things I hadn't known about Australian history (for example, I had no idea that slavery of Indigenous people didn't end until the 60s there...which both is...and isn't?...surprising given that genocide of Indigenous people is still happening in places like Canada, Australia etc.). I'm also going to check out some of the other books recommended in the interview.
This was a hard book to rate for me. I was excited to read it and really wanted to enjoy it more than I did. Its not that I actively disliked it so much that it was "just ok" for me. I think the main problem for me was that a lot of the book felt limited to very repetitive internal dialogues. It jumped a lot between characters, but it felt like those characters were constantly thinking and hammering home the same thoughts over and over again. I found it made it hard for me to focus or get into the story because it made it feel like not much was happening beyond the repetition of the same thoughts for each character.
I do respect what the author was trying to do, but just the way the story was told didn't really engage me, I guess. But it seems lots of other folks liked it, which is great. I found once Grark entered the story, things started to pick up a bit imo. And I did think the way the story lines concluded was one of its strengths.
I liked the interview with the author at the end, and feel like I did learn things I hadn't known about Australian history (for example, I had no idea that slavery of Indigenous people didn't end until the 60s there...which both is...and isn't?...surprising given that genocide of Indigenous people is still happening in places like Canada, Australia etc.). I'm also going to check out some of the other books recommended in the interview.
chl0reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
clairekewww's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
litchyn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
piteog's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
bilbooradley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
laurastephanie99's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
kumquats87's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
avisreadsandreads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit and Cultural appropriation