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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I prefer her more plot-driven work but this book is still great.
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Ah, gli americani e il loro bisogno di spettacolarizzare tutto!
L'arrivo di questa nuova persona mette in disordine la vita di tutta la comunità, uno di quei paesi che non sfigurerebbe in un romanzo di King o della Jackson, dove tutti si stimano e tutti hanno uno scheletro nell'armadio. Per mantenere l'idillio si sono inventati la propria catarsi:
È qui che Panca capisce il proprio ruolo, la propria funzione, ed è qui che si congeda dalla comunità. Non mi stupirei se comparisse di lì a poco in un'altra chiesa, in un altro stato, pronta/o a ricominciare il proprio lavoro di catalizzatore.
Spoiler
Chi è Panca? Un medium. Chi la vede bianca, chi la vede nera, chi la vedde femmina, chi la vede maschio. Lei/lui tace, fa più o meno quello che le/gli viene detto e lascia che la gente parli. Perchè la gente, con lei/lui, allude, parla, racconta, si lascia andare.L'arrivo di questa nuova persona mette in disordine la vita di tutta la comunità, uno di quei paesi che non sfigurerebbe in un romanzo di King o della Jackson, dove tutti si stimano e tutti hanno uno scheletro nell'armadio. Per mantenere l'idillio si sono inventati la propria catarsi:
Spoiler
una volta all'anno si trovano in chiesa a urlare collettivamente i propri peccati, che vengono perdonati, non importa la gravità.È qui che Panca capisce il proprio ruolo, la propria funzione, ed è qui che si congeda dalla comunità. Non mi stupirei se comparisse di lì a poco in un'altra chiesa, in un altro stato, pronta/o a ricominciare il proprio lavoro di catalizzatore.
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Summary for myself: a genderless, raceless being appears in a small Southern town, and everyone is just really obsessed with finding out who they are (not so much where they've come from, though).
This book asks far more questions than it wants to answer; at first I found this frustrating, but then I grew to see that that was the point. Honestly, it deserves a 3.5, and rating it a 3 feels almost embarrassing, like I should just accept that "not understanding" it is the whole theme, but, well, even though it was genuinely a very good book, did I "enjoy" it? That's complicated.
In a lot of ways, Pew feels like a book that should (and hopefully will) be read by high schoolers in AP English. The references to Ursula K. LeGuin and the overall stylistic similarity to The Lottery are what gave me that impression, along with the at times very hamfisted message of "don't pry into people's lives, we are what we are and nobody is entitled to information about anybody else." Yes, I was confused by much of the story, characterization, and narrative, but I found Pew's narration to be beautiful, almost as though reading something written by an alien. I am mystified by the Forgiveness Festival and genuinely have no idea what it brings to this book. But the point of view, message, and style were so fascinating -- and I gotta say, the hardcover is such a satisfying shape and size! -- that I found this a breezy, fast read.
This book asks far more questions than it wants to answer; at first I found this frustrating, but then I grew to see that that was the point. Honestly, it deserves a 3.5, and rating it a 3 feels almost embarrassing, like I should just accept that "not understanding" it is the whole theme, but, well, even though it was genuinely a very good book, did I "enjoy" it? That's complicated.
In a lot of ways, Pew feels like a book that should (and hopefully will) be read by high schoolers in AP English. The references to Ursula K. LeGuin and the overall stylistic similarity to The Lottery are what gave me that impression, along with the at times very hamfisted message of "don't pry into people's lives, we are what we are and nobody is entitled to information about anybody else." Yes, I was confused by much of the story, characterization, and narrative, but I found Pew's narration to be beautiful, almost as though reading something written by an alien. I am mystified by the Forgiveness Festival and genuinely have no idea what it brings to this book. But the point of view, message, and style were so fascinating -- and I gotta say, the hardcover is such a satisfying shape and size! -- that I found this a breezy, fast read.