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robforteath's review against another edition
3.0
This book is mainly long ultra-descriptive dream sequences, separated by short explanatory prose that gives some context.
I soon became weary of plowing through the pages of detail that is often an entire chapter, and settled into speed-reading it, which meant I missed the point of some pieces. You are required to read the very detailed descriptions, imagine the dream in your head, then ponder it to see its meaning. This is asking a lot of the reader.
I think I would really enjoy this if it was in the form of dream sequence videos, with the autobiographical prose page between each left as text to read.
I soon became weary of plowing through the pages of detail that is often an entire chapter, and settled into speed-reading it, which meant I missed the point of some pieces. You are required to read the very detailed descriptions, imagine the dream in your head, then ponder it to see its meaning. This is asking a lot of the reader.
I think I would really enjoy this if it was in the form of dream sequence videos, with the autobiographical prose page between each left as text to read.
eli_cart's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
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
2.25
tangerinetwist's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
natasha1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
nickleftforfolk's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
vonnegutian's review against another edition
4.0
Sleep Has His House is closer to a work of art than a novel. Not necessarily in the meaning of greatness (although it is very impressive) but rather in that concept and artistry supersede plot and storytelling. It is a book suffused with a sense of being autobiographical, about a young girl called B who we suppose is Kavan herself as a child.
Each chapter consists of two parts - a dichotomy between reality and B's inner world. The italicised beginnings are quite matter-of-fact and brief synopses of particularly significant events in B's life. They are followed by burgeoning, vivid interpretations of these events in a surreal and exaggerated realm. Kavan's writing comes into its own in these second parts: her imagination and use of language to illustrate the subconscious responses are masterful and it is remarkable how current and accessible the writing feels despite being written in 1947. In particular, Kavan expertly takes idyllic scenes and slowly degrades then into their exact opposites (or vice versa) - evoking dark, haunting imagery that leaves you sorrowed by the experiences B/Kavan had to face so young.
I think this was a good place to begin my reading of Kavan - it was a great advert of her talents and I'm really interested to see how they translate to a more traditional narrative. For lovers of descriptive, well-considered prose I heartily recommend Sleep Has His House. For those that prefer a stronger narrative element, perhaps her other novels are a better place to start. It also brought to mind 'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath and the work of Janet Frame - so if you are fans of those, I predict Kavan will be up your street too. 4/5
Each chapter consists of two parts - a dichotomy between reality and B's inner world. The italicised beginnings are quite matter-of-fact and brief synopses of particularly significant events in B's life. They are followed by burgeoning, vivid interpretations of these events in a surreal and exaggerated realm. Kavan's writing comes into its own in these second parts: her imagination and use of language to illustrate the subconscious responses are masterful and it is remarkable how current and accessible the writing feels despite being written in 1947. In particular, Kavan expertly takes idyllic scenes and slowly degrades then into their exact opposites (or vice versa) - evoking dark, haunting imagery that leaves you sorrowed by the experiences B/Kavan had to face so young.
I think this was a good place to begin my reading of Kavan - it was a great advert of her talents and I'm really interested to see how they translate to a more traditional narrative. For lovers of descriptive, well-considered prose I heartily recommend Sleep Has His House. For those that prefer a stronger narrative element, perhaps her other novels are a better place to start. It also brought to mind 'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath and the work of Janet Frame - so if you are fans of those, I predict Kavan will be up your street too. 4/5
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