Scan barcode
jxib's review against another edition
3.0
slight spoilers!
the plot of the book is unlike i’ve read before, somewhat reminiscent of frankenstein. the writing was sometimes a little heavy on the descriptions though beautifully accurate and took you to the place did weigh the story down. i did love the use of language by the bunnies as it truly separated them from the main character. sometimes i didn’t fully understand what was actually happening, and i feel like the book was a tad longer than it should have been, but the ending was pretty good and i enjoyed the twist!! and the themes of having an unreliable narrator (which is one of my favourite troupes) overall pretty average read for me but it is a fun book if you’re willing to stick it out :)
the plot of the book is unlike i’ve read before, somewhat reminiscent of frankenstein. the writing was sometimes a little heavy on the descriptions though beautifully accurate and took you to the place did weigh the story down. i did love the use of language by the bunnies as it truly separated them from the main character. sometimes i didn’t fully understand what was actually happening, and i feel like the book was a tad longer than it should have been, but the ending was pretty good and i enjoyed the twist!! and the themes of having an unreliable narrator (which is one of my favourite troupes) overall pretty average read for me but it is a fun book if you’re willing to stick it out :)
jemsgreatsin's review against another edition
boring. yawning. sloppy. lazy
DNF 30%
DNF 30%
garleighc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
realsphynx's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.0
minusfigures's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
A difficult and challenging read that shifts depending on the lense you choose to view it through.
As a straight up body horror it's interesting but perhaps falls short of a final climax- it builds and builds but then leads to an almost nothing conclusion- a weirdness without substance.
Except it's not a straight up horror. I've read reviews that speculate on both mental illness (schizophrenia) and metaphor. I land somewhere between the two - that Samantha has personified her feelings of inferiority, imposter syndrome, creative blockage and personal breakdown into a frightening metamorphosis of beheadings and blood.
Awad manages to convey the insular self satisfaction of an MFA arts program, with all its pomp and congratulatory pastiche; as well as the writing process itself which can be equally pompous and pastiche. She takes us on a journey through concept, manifestation, editing, uncertainty, disgust, tentative sureity and back again repeatedly until finally there is a finished product and no longer a desire to know whether or not it is good, just that it is.
I listened to this as an audio book but I think it warrants a second read with a print copy.
As a straight up body horror it's interesting but perhaps falls short of a final climax- it builds and builds but then leads to an almost nothing conclusion- a weirdness without substance.
Except it's not a straight up horror. I've read reviews that speculate on both mental illness (schizophrenia) and metaphor. I land somewhere between the two - that Samantha has personified her feelings of inferiority, imposter syndrome, creative blockage and personal breakdown into a frightening metamorphosis of beheadings and blood.
Awad manages to convey the insular self satisfaction of an MFA arts program, with all its pomp and congratulatory pastiche; as well as the writing process itself which can be equally pompous and pastiche. She takes us on a journey through concept, manifestation, editing, uncertainty, disgust, tentative sureity and back again repeatedly until finally there is a finished product and no longer a desire to know whether or not it is good, just that it is.
I listened to this as an audio book but I think it warrants a second read with a print copy.
smillii's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
sighjames's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
chloelliss's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
This is now one of my favourite styles of narrative. The darlings or drafts being Samantha’s own story and are embedded or blurred into her reality.
I didn’t find this pretentious, like some readers have reviewed this as. It grasped the right balance for me, where it’s metafiction isn’t overplayed. It isn’t a dominant device, which in some texts can take it over as it’s priority. Instead, this is balanced really well with the plot and story telling, and the meta devices. The parody of the ‘mean girls’ trope, as well as having a very entertaining plot provides this beautifully written novel.
I loved the styling of one of the chapters where ‘we’ was utilised creating this very elusive version of reality. Where we as a reader was unsure of the truth of reality or illusion. We just step into her mind blurring them all together. It is showing her to be in a very restricted and almost drugged version.
Overall, I found this novel very amusing, and even riveting. I only hoped that the ending wasn’t so bland compared to the excitement of the rest of the novel.
This is now one of my favourite styles of narrative. The darlings or drafts being Samantha’s own story and are embedded or blurred into her reality.
I didn’t find this pretentious, like some readers have reviewed this as. It grasped the right balance for me, where it’s metafiction isn’t overplayed. It isn’t a dominant device, which in some texts can take it over as it’s priority. Instead, this is balanced really well with the plot and story telling, and the meta devices. The parody of the ‘mean girls’ trope, as well as having a very entertaining plot provides this beautifully written novel.
I loved the styling of one of the chapters where ‘we’ was utilised creating this very elusive version of reality. Where we as a reader was unsure of the truth of reality or illusion. We just step into her mind blurring them all together. It is showing her to be in a very restricted and almost drugged version.
Overall, I found this novel very amusing, and even riveting. I only hoped that the ending wasn’t so bland compared to the excitement of the rest of the novel.