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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
A bloated mess that thinks it’s a lot smarter than it is
slow-paced
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Sci-fi/tech isn’t really my genre, but for those who are really interested in that, I think it would be a 5 star read! Very well written book.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There is something about the way Vara describes so many characters as physically disgusting that really puts me off. I don't love the way people are just described as smelling bad or moving strangely to illicit disgust: it's cheap and informs more about an author than the characters they're describing. The colourism in places seemed unnecessary - not enough of a throughline in the narration to be part of his idiosyncrasies, so it stood out a lot. I also was disappointed by the throwaway line about tribes in the Amazon being the only indigenous people left alive. As if "untouched" people are the only pure ones.
The setting is so dangerously close to how I feel about the world that I think it's quite unsettling and well done. I think the way the story is told - back and forth through time - worked really well.
I don't think I have to like a character to find them interesting or well written. Unfortunately I really didn't give a shit about 95% of the characters in this story. Not only were they shitty people but they just weren't compelling.
Vara is great at evocative language and describing physical sensation. I really wish I had to read about someone's "hot sour breath" like two or three less times.
The setting is so dangerously close to how I feel about the world that I think it's quite unsettling and well done. I think the way the story is told - back and forth through time - worked really well.
I don't think I have to like a character to find them interesting or well written. Unfortunately I really didn't give a shit about 95% of the characters in this story. Not only were they shitty people but they just weren't compelling.
Vara is great at evocative language and describing physical sensation. I really wish I had to read about someone's "hot sour breath" like two or three less times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I thought this book was so interesting! It tackled a lot more than I expected. I feel like it painted a picture of how interconnected everything is and how complicated it is to try to sort everything out. There were so many things about this book that were so familiar to things that we just accept every day. I thought that the storytelling style was amazing. This is a book that will stick with me for a while!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Holy fuck y'all this was a brilliant and cutting analysis of the world we live in, our willingness to go with the status flow and our increasing dependence on technology and away from human connection
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death, Vomit, War