Reviews

Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson

katiegilley's review against another edition

5.0

I think this is the best Atkinson I've read yet! Completely hilarious, with a bit of a mystery that slowly unravels and then spits out at the end. It's set, of course, in Scotland and focuses on Effie, a young woman working on an English degree. She has some crazy friends (including Bob, the slacker boyfriend who really only sleeps and gets high, whom she's constantly trying to figure out a way to get rid of) who are just hilarious and an eccentric bunch of literature professors who all have tendencies to have accidents and get hurt.returnreturnThe way the novel is portrayed is in the form of a story - Effie is telling the story of what her life is like when she's at University to her mother in hopes that her mother will share the story of her own life. Effie's mother (Nora) lives on a secluded island off of the coast of Scotland and seems to be running from something. returnreturnAll in all - if you like stormy nights on a secluded island, reading about literature students, and hilarious writing - then check this one out!!

jlsjourneys's review against another edition

2.0

Some of Atkinson’s novels are amongst my all time favorite, but this meandering didn’t work for me. Still some clever moments, but essentially without a plot.

jess_mango's review against another edition

4.0

I had enjoyed the other 2 Atkinson novels that I had read, so when I saw "Emotionally Weird" at a used book sale I eagerly purchased it. The novel was difficult to get into at first. "Emotionally Weird" is experimental fiction that in the typical Atkinson way breaks the rules of the traditional novel. It can be confusing at times, but it is supposed to be. At its heart the book is about the art of writing and storytelling. In the end, I found it well worth plowing through the slow start and the confusion.

whatsjessreading's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

sumna_sova's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

shellydennison's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense 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

4.0

Enjoyable romp. Probably particularly entertaining to anyone who did Eng Lit to at least A-level as it plays with genre and lit crit. 

sandygx260's review against another edition

4.0

Not as brilliant as KA's next works but there's still enough weirdness to keep the reader captivated.

amy_12's review against another edition

4.0

I had no idea what was happening most of the time but still massively enjoyed myself. Kooky characters & bizarre plot. 

laila4343's review against another edition

4.0

True to its title, this book was bizarre.

But I ended up really liking it, and laughed out loud quite a bit.

daria_nedelcu19's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Enjoyment 10/10
Concept 9/10
Execution 9/10
Writing 10/10
Plot & Logic 8/10
Pacing & Structure 9/10
Atmosphere 10/10
Characters 8/10
Intrigue 9/10

Rating: 4.56/5