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cstein's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.75
Ondaatje's descriptions of the desert/desert communities and the sappers' work were, for me, the most compelling aspects of this novel. I was also charmed by the family/community the characters build within Villa San Girolamo. Several times, Ondaatje employs an original and effective literary device in which his characters recount the conclusion of a story (and the reader is confused) before they immediately recount the events leading up to the conclusion (so the reader's confusion is resolved). Interesting commentary on the role of race in war and in the historical and future American use of nuclear bombs. Caravaggio starts as such an intriguing and even funny character, but Ondaatje largely ignores him in the later stages of the book. The ending is abrupt and felt somewhat unresolved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Excrement
njauf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I read this book for class and I did not enjoy it. First of all, it was for a Critical Theory class, and I really think we could have spent our time focusing on a better text. However, I don't think I would have enjoyed this even if I had read it in a different context. The writing, while occasionally poetic, dragged a lot. It was boring. It excused abuse between two of the main characters, which was the final straw for me. I would have abandoned it at that point, but, like I said, it was for class.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Addiction
ariannam's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I really loved this book. The characters, the writing style, the intertextual references, the way narration weaves in and out of the present moment to go back to a character's memories they share with the others… it's beautiful. I think I must've highlighted half of it, mostly because I was so fascinated by the sentences and the relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, and Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Miscarriage
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