Reviews

Weird, i decided to give a bunch of the books in the 2020 Best of Goodreads a go. This one was in the Fantasy Category. I cannot fathom why on earth it was there, but who cares, it was a little gem of a book. Short but long enough so the structure works to effect but does not become tiresome. The messaging is on point and given in a light enough satirical voice to not be lecturing.

ryleyhorner's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

page_with_no_i's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I love a post-modern experimental novel.

syafa's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I love the concept and the commitment to the form! Captures the ambiguity between what's "an act" and what's not well - very confusing which I think is the point. In another book, I think the heavy-handedness with the social commentary, esp on the last chap, would be of the sort that I find distasteful, but I think it works well in this book actually. I highlighted a lot of lines and I can see myself using the same lines of argument myself in like an essay or idk in everyday life. Though admittedly sometimes the logic of the argument was hard for me to follow. But the ideas were there! Like the idea that your whole existence is a performance to appease an audience that doesn't actually want to see you at all, or that winning within an oppressive system isn't really a win (I agree though I find it a hard pill to swallow) or this false competition between minorities about who suffered/s more and therefore gets to make more noise about it.

monfernx94's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.25

duriangrey's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

need to read it again and chew on it

More...