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lauraborkpower's review against another edition
4.0
This story turned out to be much different than I'd imagined going into it, and it surprised me at almost every turn. The characters are lovely and consistently heartbreaking, and their understanding of the world is so earnest that the reader believes the same, which is why, when they are deceived, it is so devastating.
Russell layers her details and metaphors in such a way that quickens the pace; but that quick pace meant that I frequently read over, too quickly, some really beautiful language. So I found myself re-reading a number of lines and passages along the way. This wasn't an unpleasant experience at all--I was always uncovering something I'd missed at first glance. But it did mean a layered and rich type of story that might not be everyone's cup of tea.
I also appreciated my timing of reading this book: I'm teaching creative writing and Russell gave me a number of passages to bring into class as examples of perfect uses of descriptive language (e.g. Cubby Wallach, "complected like a bowl of oatmeal and yet carried himself as if he were wearing a top hat and spats.") and the right way to switch points of view (she uses both first person [Ava] and third person [Kiwi]).
I will absolutely go back and read Russell's first book and I look forward to anything she produces in the future (although it might be a long while if she is to create a world as rich as this one).
Russell layers her details and metaphors in such a way that quickens the pace; but that quick pace meant that I frequently read over, too quickly, some really beautiful language. So I found myself re-reading a number of lines and passages along the way. This wasn't an unpleasant experience at all--I was always uncovering something I'd missed at first glance. But it did mean a layered and rich type of story that might not be everyone's cup of tea.
I also appreciated my timing of reading this book: I'm teaching creative writing and Russell gave me a number of passages to bring into class as examples of perfect uses of descriptive language (e.g. Cubby Wallach, "complected like a bowl of oatmeal and yet carried himself as if he were wearing a top hat and spats.") and the right way to switch points of view (she uses both first person [Ava] and third person [Kiwi]).
I will absolutely go back and read Russell's first book and I look forward to anything she produces in the future (although it might be a long while if she is to create a world as rich as this one).
mbpartlow's review against another edition
2.0
Nope.
Was it well written? Yes, very.
But it had an ingrained bleakness that left me feeling as though I'd been crawling along the floor of the swamp with the characters.
Was it well written? Yes, very.
But it had an ingrained bleakness that left me feeling as though I'd been crawling along the floor of the swamp with the characters.
thelizzysaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
poetdreaming's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
With humor, this book masks itself as quirky and magical, but it is really a sad, dark book about the tragic loss of childhood. Young, naive, and sheltered, Ava loses her mother to cancer. Her brother runs away, her father leaves on business, and then her sister runs away to marry a ghost. Ava needs to believe in ghosts because it means maybe she can see her mother again. So alone, and lonely, she takes off with a stranger - a really odd man who offers to help Ava find her sister in the Underworld. And this is where childhood innocence really gets lost.
I thought at first the magical realism in this book seemed ambiguous, but by the end, I saw things clearly and my heart just broke for what the Bigtree kids went through. I just wanted to wrap them each up in a blanket and feed them cocoa and promise that nothing bad would ever happen to them ever again.
At first, Swamplandia! Seemed like a slog to get through, but once I understood what the book is really about, I spent hours devouring each word. I recommend this book more for fans of literary fiction than light magical realism - it's got dark themes, and if you get swept up in the perspective of the 13 year old main narrator, the violence that occurs may take you by surprise - but I think keen readers will notice the signs ahead. Tread with caution, though - the violent scene is not sugar-coated.
I thought at first the magical realism in this book seemed ambiguous, but by the end, I saw things clearly and my heart just broke for what the Bigtree kids went through. I just wanted to wrap them each up in a blanket and feed them cocoa and promise that nothing bad would ever happen to them ever again.
At first, Swamplandia! Seemed like a slog to get through, but once I understood what the book is really about, I spent hours devouring each word. I recommend this book more for fans of literary fiction than light magical realism - it's got dark themes, and if you get swept up in the perspective of the 13 year old main narrator, the violence that occurs may take you by surprise - but I think keen readers will notice the signs ahead. Tread with caution, though - the violent scene is not sugar-coated.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
meenagirl's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this but just found it boring and struggled with finishing it :(
cdellis82's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
I liked the writing. I liked the promise of the plot, but then it ended up feeling like a lot of missed opportunities. And I really disliked the clumsy violence towards the end. I felt nervous about that type of violence from the time the Birdman was introduced, but then several subsequent chapters lulled me into thinking it was safe, only to show up towards the end in a jarring way, and never really be properly addressed. The end felt super rushed after a very slow moving overall pace.
aoi_'s review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
wall0w's review against another edition
I didn't check content warnings before starting and checked them after The Bird Man showed up because I immediately got bad vibes and I'm glad I did. I had been enjoying the adventure of the story up until that point and I don't want to know what happens for the rest of it.
greenhej's review against another edition
3.0
Beautiful writing, but the story loses itself. I almost quit reading midway through, but I always finish a book once started. This one ended much more strongly than I anticipated.
discostell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75