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vsb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
a siren call, a lullaby, a year in review report, a call to arms to lay down our arms, an ode, a farewell and a greeting. my favourite book
djerome's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
brisingr's review
5.0
2nd read: 10-13th May 2021.
Now that I am not as confused about what's going on (and with some Winterson history and theory backing up my brains), this novel is really not subtle at all in its absolutely understandable critique of capitalism. I love what it set out to do, I love how it has done it: the usual beautiful writing style of Winterson, the running themes across really wonderful characters, and all the heart and hurt as an undercurrent for a lesson for humanity.
I was scared that a reread might bump this down from being a favourite, but nope. This novel still absolutely shines for me, it gave me all I could want from a cautionary tale that is already under-way.
1st read: 7-8th November 2018.
"Love is an intervention.
Why do we not choose it?"
Beautiful and so desperately needed at the moment. A cautionary tale that is important and valuable and humane and touching. It had everything I love in a story, and it had enough truth to scare me and enough hope despite repeating wrongness and messiness that it made sense.
Now that I am not as confused about what's going on (and with some Winterson history and theory backing up my brains), this novel is really not subtle at all in its absolutely understandable critique of capitalism. I love what it set out to do, I love how it has done it: the usual beautiful writing style of Winterson, the running themes across really wonderful characters, and all the heart and hurt as an undercurrent for a lesson for humanity.
I was scared that a reread might bump this down from being a favourite, but nope. This novel still absolutely shines for me, it gave me all I could want from a cautionary tale that is already under-way.
1st read: 7-8th November 2018.
"Love is an intervention.
Why do we not choose it?"
Beautiful and so desperately needed at the moment. A cautionary tale that is important and valuable and humane and touching. It had everything I love in a story, and it had enough truth to scare me and enough hope despite repeating wrongness and messiness that it made sense.
otterlost's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
laurasauras's review
2.0
I found it heavy-handed on the allegorical stuff, which left me feeling kind of condescended to, and couldn't connect with any of the characters. The emphasis on the cycle was interesting, gotta love me some queer romance, but I really had to push myself to finish it.
lbarsk's review against another edition
2.0
Mostly this book leaves me feeling pretty depressed about our prospects as Earth and the human race -- as I think is the point -- but I can recognize it as solid writing and "book-plotting." Winterson is NO SLOUCH and knows how to pack a punch, though her prose did take a bit of getting used to.
I found the book's fundamental concept, "Everything is imprinted for ever with what it once was," fascinating to think about, and I appreciated the parallel narratives/past lives/future lives situation going on. It's just REALLY HARD to read this and come out of it feeling good about anything; Winterson captures the worst of Western society and takes it too far and shows us its devastating effects, which we are of course unable to reverse and so everything falls to shit. In that way I think it's a critical read -- everyone SHOULD be thinking about environmental conservation and where power lies in our societies and the crushing burden of patriarchy -- but definitely a terrifying one to dive into right before this shitshow of an American presidential election.
I found the book's fundamental concept, "Everything is imprinted for ever with what it once was," fascinating to think about, and I appreciated the parallel narratives/past lives/future lives situation going on. It's just REALLY HARD to read this and come out of it feeling good about anything; Winterson captures the worst of Western society and takes it too far and shows us its devastating effects, which we are of course unable to reverse and so everything falls to shit. In that way I think it's a critical read -- everyone SHOULD be thinking about environmental conservation and where power lies in our societies and the crushing burden of patriarchy -- but definitely a terrifying one to dive into right before this shitshow of an American presidential election.
abmgw's review
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
alyxbrett's review
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rituxa's review
3.0
there are so many great bits that get unfortunately tangled with pointless abstract and shock value details and scenes that take away from the otherwise great concept of the book.