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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
I am so taken by Johnson’s investigations of strange in-between spaces and the strange things people do in them. This book was phenomenally weird, winding and wild.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Haunting but beautifully written. I really love how Johnson writes, even if the endings are clear to see from a ways off. She does so well at crafting an eerie atmosphere and it fills you with dread until the last page.
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
I have a lot to say about this book in a way I haven't with the others I've read recently. It creates this haunting atmosphere that reminded me of Our Wives Under the Sea and both have magical realism, dark fairytale and characters haunted by an underwater beast. But even though it was clear where this Greek tragedy was going from fairly early on, it had me hooked in the imagery in a way that I haven't felt for a while. The questions of fate, mixing ancient storytelling with modern worries around genetics and health, felt well incorporated. I knew as I was reading that I would want to reread it and feel sure that it'll get even more from it a second time around.
This is worth reading, generally clear and mostly well-written. There weren't any surprises in it, though. It's written in a suspenseful way but, as far as I was concerned, the answers to the questions raised all turned out to be the most obvious ones. The revelations were all so heavily hinted at from early on in the book, that I had no emotional reaction when they were baldly narrated. I kept reading right up to the end in the hopes of twist, but there wasn't really one.
One of the themes is language. The central character, Gretel (who is sometimes, but not always, the narrator), is a lexicographer. She and her mother lived in isolation when she was a child, and partially invented their own language. This was all interesting as far as it went, but I would have liked to have seen it explored further.
There's a greek myth hiding in the weeds of this story (I won't spoiler, but it's clear early on which one it is), and a pinch of magical realism, some interesting stuff about river/canal life, gender, and dementia. The best, most developed aspect, though, is the mother/daughter relationship.
One of the themes is language. The central character, Gretel (who is sometimes, but not always, the narrator), is a lexicographer. She and her mother lived in isolation when she was a child, and partially invented their own language. This was all interesting as far as it went, but I would have liked to have seen it explored further.
There's a greek myth hiding in the weeds of this story (I won't spoiler, but it's clear early on which one it is), and a pinch of magical realism, some interesting stuff about river/canal life, gender, and dementia. The best, most developed aspect, though, is the mother/daughter relationship.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the best books I’ve read in a while! Daisy’s writing is so captivating and intimate, and I loved how all of the chapters weave together in the end. I read it in under 3 days which is rare for me at the moment, it has really brought me out of a reading slump!
The style is definitely more creative, which is why I think some people didn’t finish it or get through. Daisy doesn’t just hand you the answers, she invites you to come along the journey and uncover them yourself. I’d definitely recommend this to someone who loves quirky fiction, it reminded me a little of We have always lived in the castle in the sense that it always keeps you on your toes
The style is definitely more creative, which is why I think some people didn’t finish it or get through. Daisy doesn’t just hand you the answers, she invites you to come along the journey and uncover them yourself. I’d definitely recommend this to someone who loves quirky fiction, it reminded me a little of We have always lived in the castle in the sense that it always keeps you on your toes
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I wanted to like this book, I really did. It had all of the things love: mystery, myth, a lingering darkness, etc. In the end I felt like reading it was a test of my patience and I didn’t find the ending satisfying enough to make up for the rest of it. I also felt like the writing style was too jumpy for my tastes and thought it was trying too hard.
The creepiness of houseboats has been VERY underutilized, I realize.