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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The writing style was too convoluted. Brain just isnt big enough for a book like this
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There is something wonderful reading this book. I am uncertain if it’s the dark humor or just the humanity of the characters in a bizarre world. The books is challenging to read sort of stream of consciousness, and it really helps to know a bit about Northern Ireland.
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Vibes but also a slog
I understand why other people liked this novel so much, for me it was too much of a slow burn (I did not even see the fire).
It is the age old questions: What makes a book good? This one has a distinctive style and a capturing protagonist, an interesting setting and danger looming in the background. Despite these things, it felt too far away for me (underscored by the „no character names given“ policy) and this did not work with the slow pace for me. Maybe at another time in a cottage in the middle of nowhere I would have loved it.
It is the age old questions: What makes a book good? This one has a distinctive style and a capturing protagonist, an interesting setting and danger looming in the background. Despite these things, it felt too far away for me (underscored by the „no character names given“ policy) and this did not work with the slow pace for me. Maybe at another time in a cottage in the middle of nowhere I would have loved it.
I had a love/hate relationship with this one. I love that Burns' prose captures the first person narrative perfectly. It completely develops middle sister's character. She's witty and insightful, and thinks a bit too deeply for her community. She seems open and honest, often admitting mistakes; yet, something just isn't quite right with her. I kept asking myself is she a trustworthy narrator? And that kept me reading.
Her narrative perfectly paints the picture of this chaotic, absurd, and terrifying time period in this community. I'm assuming it's Northern Ireland during the 1970s, because that's what others have said. The character only alludes to time period, and almost never calls any place or anyone by their proper names, including herself. As I was reading it, I kept thinking this is an alternate, dystopian universe set in our 1970s. Although it's absurd and terrifying, Burns also captures the humanity and the genuine care for one another among the insanity, especially in the mother-daughter relationship.
What's weird is that what makes the narrative work and develops the character is also the thing I hated. Middle sister's narrative is so overly wordy and repetitious and circular. Again, I get that it is what creates the character and makes her endearing, but I feel it could have been done with far fewer words. I had an English professor who taught us that everything in a good novel must serve a purpose and have meaning. There were times I found myself reading the first sentence in a really long paragraph and skipping to the last sentence, because everything in between was useless circular thinking. And I didn't feel like I missed anything in those paragraphs.
I was also skeptical of the last 15% or so of the book. As things begin to peak, it all seemed to wrap up rather quickly and conveniently. I wasn't a fan of the ending.
Her narrative perfectly paints the picture of this chaotic, absurd, and terrifying time period in this community. I'm assuming it's Northern Ireland during the 1970s, because that's what others have said. The character only alludes to time period, and almost never calls any place or anyone by their proper names, including herself. As I was reading it, I kept thinking this is an alternate, dystopian universe set in our 1970s. Although it's absurd and terrifying, Burns also captures the humanity and the genuine care for one another among the insanity, especially in the mother-daughter relationship.
What's weird is that what makes the narrative work and develops the character is also the thing I hated. Middle sister's narrative is so overly wordy and repetitious and circular. Again, I get that it is what creates the character and makes her endearing, but I feel it could have been done with far fewer words. I had an English professor who taught us that everything in a good novel must serve a purpose and have meaning. There were times I found myself reading the first sentence in a really long paragraph and skipping to the last sentence, because everything in between was useless circular thinking. And I didn't feel like I missed anything in those paragraphs.
I was also skeptical of the last 15% or so of the book. As things begin to peak, it all seemed to wrap up rather quickly and conveniently. I wasn't a fan of the ending.
50 pages in and do you want to know what this reads like? You know the thoughts we have in our brains all intermingled and incomprehensible with one thought intervening into the next until all you get is gibberish that only you can understand! This is what this reads like. Extra-long paragraphs go on for pages with only commas separating the different ideas. Am I going to finish it? Yeah. Do I like it? NO!!
I can normally read a book in 3-5 days. This one, however, is going to take a while.
I can normally read a book in 3-5 days. This one, however, is going to take a while.
Wow.. It took me a long time to finish this book. My English is quite good, but I am no native speaker. The dialect that is used in this book is a tough read.
However once you have finished it is amazing. You get such a sense of the times, such a sense of the community, the implicit pressure of others around her.. The author has created a whole new world not known to me before. Her tone is so real and authentic. Recommend this to everyone, b just don't stop reading.
However once you have finished it is amazing. You get such a sense of the times, such a sense of the community, the implicit pressure of others around her.. The author has created a whole new world not known to me before. Her tone is so real and authentic. Recommend this to everyone, b just don't stop reading.