Reviews

Randai by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir

liammenzies's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Super disappointed, and borderline annoyed at how this turned out.

There is such a good concept here - A Man Called Otto meets The Bear if Carmie was into DIY and not fine dining - but it goes absolutely nowhere. 

I know not every story has to have likable characters but when the focus of your story is a suicidal man, being able to empathise seems like a necessity, no? Such an air of pretentiousness that fortunately starts to dissipate in the last 30 pages: conveniently enough, the point at which I was actually starting to enjoy it a bit!

On the one hand, Hotel Silence should be a lot longer as both its story and characters desperately need fleshing out. Yet on the other, even at a meagre 174 pages, reading this often felt like walking through treacle. 

Not for me I’m afraid.

eli_bug's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

medzik's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5/5

irissuurmond's review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

angeliqueazul's review against another edition

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dark reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

lamom77's review against another edition

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5.0

Wow, this was one of those rare gems that you accidentally stumble across. I was attracted to the cover as it sat on the "new books" shelf at the library. It started very depressing but became quite an inspiring book. Part of me would have liked more details - where is this supposed to be, what happened to the characters, what happens next - but the important part was Jonas's journey and it was very well done.

baterbook's review against another edition

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4.0

3.75
Ciężko było mi się wgryść w tę książkę i w sposób pisania autora ale gdy przebrnęłam przez pierwsze 40 stron nie mogłam się oderwać. Ta pozycja poruszyła coś we mnie ale nie potrafię dojść co dokładnie, niestety mimo to mam wrażenie że nie zostanie ona ze mną zbyt długo.

diana_acc's review against another edition

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3.0

Es un libro bastante ligero, es el primero que leo de la autora y no estuvo mal.

Nos cuenta la historia de Jonas, un hombre cuarentón y divorciado, sin ganas de vivir, su mujer al pedirle el divorcio también le informó que la hija que crío como suya no es su hija biológica, y pensé ¡que perra!, pero aunque no terminaran de la mejor manera, si mantienen una relación.

El protagonista decide que no quiere que su familia sea la que descubra su cadáver, asi que decide escoger un lugar que está pasando por una guerra y dónde tal vez no sea necesario el suicidio, pero se encuentra con personas que necesitan su apoyo.

Creo que en el fondo necesitaba que alguien quisiera pasar tiempo con él, que se interesara por algo más que su dinerl, quería ser útil.

mjtess's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

tamerendil's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5