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gabrielle_erin's review
2.0
I never read Moby Dick because the story didn't seem that interesting to me so I guess it's not surprising that this one wasn't either. I just don't relate to whales??? The characters all felt flat and one dimensional and although I've never read the original material it felt like this book was too hard to point out that it was a creative reimagining of a classic. Disappointing because I have loved Ness' other work.
pao_reynard's review
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
saschabookishowl's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very original take on Moby Dick. It read like a dark, fantasy, novella. Because of the short length and some pages which only have an illustration, it didn't read like a novel.
I really enjoyed it. It was beautiful and I read it in one sitting.
I really enjoyed it. It was beautiful and I read it in one sitting.
maddiemcevoy's review
5.0
I adore Patrick Ness. Despite this, I wasn't expecting to like this book. I don't know why I ever thought a Patrick Ness book wouldn't be good. All I knew about this prior to reading it was that it had something to do with Moby Dick and I don't like Moby Dick very much (I've never read it in full so I probably shouldn't be making judgements) so I expected that I wouldn't like this very much.
This was incredible. I can understand why people wouldn't enjoy this book, but I think it's the same reason people don't like The Rest of Us Just Live Here, or More Than This-- because they expect it to be something it isn't.
And The Ocean Was Our Sky isn't a full length novel, and I've read a lot of reviews angry that it isn't a full length novel. It's basically a fairy-tale-esque short story about whales. It doesn't go too in depth about the characters, story, or world. It doesn't need to. This book is one of the tightest stories I've ever read. It's powerful and beautiful, and says everything it wants to say in less than 200 pages.
I loved it. Patrick Ness is never going to let me down.
This was incredible. I can understand why people wouldn't enjoy this book, but I think it's the same reason people don't like The Rest of Us Just Live Here, or More Than This-- because they expect it to be something it isn't.
And The Ocean Was Our Sky isn't a full length novel, and I've read a lot of reviews angry that it isn't a full length novel. It's basically a fairy-tale-esque short story about whales. It doesn't go too in depth about the characters, story, or world. It doesn't need to. This book is one of the tightest stories I've ever read. It's powerful and beautiful, and says everything it wants to say in less than 200 pages.
I loved it. Patrick Ness is never going to let me down.
kangokaren's review against another edition
3.0
I had a really hard time following the description of Toby Wick…
beth_don's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I didn't anticipate the ending to be quite the way it was. This story is more akin to a folktale, carrying a moral for future generations. I think that it might have ended too abruptly. I was LOVING the build up closer to the end, I just feel like the climax was too quick and the drop from that too neck breaking. It gets a 4 from me for that. I highlighted this book a lot and loved the illustrations.
bethhthelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I have read the entirety of Moby Dick twice. I didn't love it. I went into this book by Patrick Ness hoping I could get something else out of a reverse-Moby Dick story. I don't think I got it. I get the plot--the pod of whales hunting men. I think this whole thing kind of felt like a heavy handed approach at how we can never truly understand our enemies and we should listen to our instincts about what is right and wrong and true. The illustrations were beautiful and haunting. Maybe I'm not meant to love books about whales.
susytore's review against another edition
3.0
3,5 *
il mezzo punto in più è dovuto alle illustrazioni, bellissime (forse una delle cose più belle del libro).
Tanti messaggi, idee e spunti di riflessione (certamente importanti) racchiusi in pungenti citazioni amalgamate in una storia narrata in una maniera eccessivamente caotica, dal mio punto di vista. Essendo un libro middle-grade mi chiedo davvero quanto un ragazzo possa apprezzarne la lettura e comprenderla. Lo stile di narrazione non mi ha entusiasmato e non mi ha particolarmente emozionata. Peccato... avevo alte aspettative.
il mezzo punto in più è dovuto alle illustrazioni, bellissime (forse una delle cose più belle del libro).
Tanti messaggi, idee e spunti di riflessione (certamente importanti) racchiusi in pungenti citazioni amalgamate in una storia narrata in una maniera eccessivamente caotica, dal mio punto di vista. Essendo un libro middle-grade mi chiedo davvero quanto un ragazzo possa apprezzarne la lettura e comprenderla. Lo stile di narrazione non mi ha entusiasmato e non mi ha particolarmente emozionata. Peccato... avevo alte aspettative.