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kirstym25's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Cancer, Medical content, and Misogyny
notartgarfunkel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Cancer, Stalking, and Terminal illness
Minor: Grief, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Alcohol
kris386's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Cancer, Gaslighting, and Medical content
Moderate: Death
Minor: Toxic relationship, Animal death, and Alcohol
deedireads's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Trust is a creatively executed novel about perceived power and who gets to tell history. It stuck with me for days after I finished, and I was extremely impressed.
For you if: You like a literary puzzle, and books with unique structures.
FULL REVIEW:
I was curious about Trust because people are talking about it as a possible Booker Prize contender. I’m SO glad I picked it up. It took me some time to process its impressiveness, but ultimately I loved it. (That’s a little intimidating to say because Booker-esque readers tend to have polarizing opinions that they aren’t afraid to yell about, but Roxane Gay called it “sublime, and richly layered,” so I feel like I’m in good company.)
The format of the book is most notable: Told in four “books” (a novel, an incomplete autobiography, a memoir, and a journal), it introduces us, in multiple ways and from multiple angles, to a couple who became (even more) extraordinarily wealthy during the Great Depression. It’s hard to say more without spoiling the reading experience, but suffice to say that this is a book about power and its tenuousness, and history, and what wealth masks, and what “great” men convince themselves of, and who tells the story.
It’s a very readable book, but with subtle layers that keep you engaged and worm their way into your brain for days after you’ve finished. It comes together so gracefully that it’s almost easy to dismiss as simple. But on the other hand, after I finished it, I immediately opened my Notes app and paced around my apartment while jotting down impressions and thoughts — so, there’s that! Diaz has a lot of respect for the reader and gives them space to reflect on all the layers beneath (or that ripple out from?) the main “reveal.” This would make an absolutely incredible book club book; I can’t wait to talk about it with more people.
Last thing I’ll say: You’re going to hear a lot of comparisons to Trust Exercise by Susan Choi, which I feel like people either loved or hated. The comparison here is because of the format; the voice(s) and themes are completely different. So if you weren’t a fan of Trust Exercise, don’t let that sway you away from reading Trust.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Trust is a creatively executed novel about perceived power and who gets to tell history. It stuck with me for days after I finished, and I was extremely impressed.
For you if: You like a literary puzzle, and books with unique structures.
FULL REVIEW:
I was curious about Trust because people are talking about it as a possible Booker Prize contender. I’m SO glad I picked it up. It took me some time to process its impressiveness, but ultimately I loved it. (That’s a little intimidating to say because Booker-esque readers tend to have polarizing opinions that they aren’t afraid to yell about, but Roxane Gay called it “sublime, and richly layered,” so I feel like I’m in good company.)
The format of the book is most notable: Told in four “books” (a novel, an incomplete autobiography, a memoir, and a journal), it introduces us, in multiple ways and from multiple angles, to a couple who became (even more) extraordinarily wealthy during the Great Depression. It’s hard to say more without spoiling the reading experience, but suffice to say that this is a book about power and its tenuousness, and history, and what wealth masks, and what “great” men convince themselves of, and who tells the story.
It’s a very readable book, but with subtle layers that keep you engaged and worm their way into your brain for days after you’ve finished. It comes together so gracefully that it’s almost easy to dismiss as simple. But on the other hand, after I finished it, I immediately opened my Notes app and paced around my apartment while jotting down impressions and thoughts — so, there’s that! Diaz has a lot of respect for the reader and gives them space to reflect on all the layers beneath (or that ripple out from?) the main “reveal.” This would make an absolutely incredible book club book; I can’t wait to talk about it with more people.
Last thing I’ll say: You’re going to hear a lot of comparisons to Trust Exercise by Susan Choi, which I feel like people either loved or hated. The comparison here is because of the format; the voice(s) and themes are completely different. So if you weren’t a fan of Trust Exercise, don’t let that sway you away from reading Trust.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Cancer
Moderate: Misogyny and Medical content
More...