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eviczko's review
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
narwhalsandbooks's review
2.0
I found the structure too distracting to fully enjoy the story, a shame!
emiliemaya's review
3.0
I expected more from this book given how hyped it’s been. I liked Eliza and found her witty, but the timeline was difficult to follow at times at the plot didn’t really go anywhere.
silvermadeleine's review
funny
informative
reflective
sad
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? Yes
3.5
Entertaining historical fiction about the possibilities and limits of solidarity and imagination. It wouldn't be fair to call this hysterical realism, the term coined by James Wood to describe Zadie Smith's first novel, but she does still have the somewhat frenetic writing style.
colettecarman's review
1.0
This was literally the worst book I have ever read. The only reason I read it so quickly was so I didn’t have to read it anymore.
1. The first half of the book makes no sense and doesn’t have anything to do with the fraud at all
2. Smith writes like a bad, wannabe Jane Austen but it just ends up reading like actual nonsense.
3. The timeline jumping was insane. I never knew what was going on.
4. There is not one likeable character in this book. And there were way too many characters, 95% of which are never introduced, and you have no idea who they are. Several characters are referred to by 2-3 different names. Also, many characters had the same name.
5. I thought this book would end in some kind of twist, or something gripping, but no. The end was just as boring as the other 425 pages.
I could go on but I can’t give anymore time to this hellhole of a book.
1. The first half of the book makes no sense and doesn’t have anything to do with the fraud at all
2. Smith writes like a bad, wannabe Jane Austen but it just ends up reading like actual nonsense.
3. The timeline jumping was insane. I never knew what was going on.
4. There is not one likeable character in this book. And there were way too many characters, 95% of which are never introduced, and you have no idea who they are. Several characters are referred to by 2-3 different names. Also, many characters had the same name.
5. I thought this book would end in some kind of twist, or something gripping, but no. The end was just as boring as the other 425 pages.
I could go on but I can’t give anymore time to this hellhole of a book.
karijohnson's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
booksandbristol's review against another edition
Sadly it was just dragging for me (37% in), I tried audio and hard copy and it just wasn't grabbing me.