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sgs's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Beautifully written even in translation. Non-linear and engaging, I wanted so much for Raul that I knew he couldn’t have.
My only complaint: some moments (repeated) were so disturbing and frequent that I almost felt desensitized “oh this is happening to him again”. That sat wrong with me as a reader.
My only complaint: some moments (repeated) were so disturbing and frequent that I almost felt desensitized “oh this is happening to him again”. That sat wrong with me as a reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and War
Minor: Misogyny
vigil's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
on an objective level, this is an amazing book. it is well crafted, accomplishes precisely what it set out to do, along with great prose. if anyone asked me about it, i'd readily recommend it.
however, i didn't connect with it like i thought i would. i think it's either the nature of the translation, or of raul's point of view. the book is best described as surreal, keeping you in a quiet haze of introspection and reminiscence, undercut by a swift undercurrent of moments of brutality. part of the hazy quality of the book is the way marcial gala seamlessly transitions between past, present, and future in both subtle and piercing ways. the brutality of this stood out, as well as the occasional moments of sharp emotion from raul, but the haze (the majority of the book) did not especially.
it's hard to put my finger on what exactly would have made the book better for me, but i do think it should've been longer, and perhaps having a different translator / translation style.
this book is filled with triggers, heed all warnings.
however, i didn't connect with it like i thought i would. i think it's either the nature of the translation, or of raul's point of view. the book is best described as surreal, keeping you in a quiet haze of introspection and reminiscence, undercut by a swift undercurrent of moments of brutality. part of the hazy quality of the book is the way marcial gala seamlessly transitions between past, present, and future in both subtle and piercing ways. the brutality of this stood out, as well as the occasional moments of sharp emotion from raul, but the haze (the majority of the book) did not especially.
it's hard to put my finger on what exactly would have made the book better for me, but i do think it should've been longer, and perhaps having a different translator / translation style.
this book is filled with triggers, heed all warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail