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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Let's see, it took me 7.5 months to read this book? This is primarily because I kept having to return it to the library so someone else could have a turn, and I just couldn't make myself read it quickly...or buy it. There were plenty of hooks (and barbs) to this story that kept me coming back to finish.
The writing style is very unusual and I was fascinated by it initially. As with all styles you tend to acclimate over the course of the book, but nevertheless this is what first captured me.
What held me captive next was the characters who were inordinately complex. They captured my compassion and allegiance, but I couldn't say they were very relatable to me personally. I was an anthropologist trying to pick up clues to the lifestyle of a strange place where they still have phone operators. I was rooting for them, even if I didn't exactly know what success looked like in this context.
One of the most powerful pieces of this book was the portrayal of abuse. I think it's easy to demonize abusers. This book drew out the psychologist in me and asked some hard questions about abuse and poverty, lack of resources, difficult circumstances, substance use and isolation. The portrayal was multi-faceted, intimate, and heart breaking. It is the primary reason I would recommend this book.
The barbs are that it can become a bit of a slog through words. The style that initially intrigues can grow burdensome later. And the main protagonist (Kerewin Holmes/Keri Hulme?) has too many skills, experiences, and too much money. She's invincible and nearly perfect (in her own eyes) but the redeeming quality is that she struggles with emptiness despite this. That aspect of her character at least rang true.
The writing style is very unusual and I was fascinated by it initially. As with all styles you tend to acclimate over the course of the book, but nevertheless this is what first captured me.
What held me captive next was the characters who were inordinately complex. They captured my compassion and allegiance, but I couldn't say they were very relatable to me personally. I was an anthropologist trying to pick up clues to the lifestyle of a strange place where they still have phone operators. I was rooting for them, even if I didn't exactly know what success looked like in this context.
One of the most powerful pieces of this book was the portrayal of abuse. I think it's easy to demonize abusers. This book drew out the psychologist in me and asked some hard questions about abuse and poverty, lack of resources, difficult circumstances, substance use and isolation. The portrayal was multi-faceted, intimate, and heart breaking. It is the primary reason I would recommend this book.
The barbs are that it can become a bit of a slog through words. The style that initially intrigues can grow burdensome later. And the main protagonist (Kerewin Holmes/Keri Hulme?) has too many skills, experiences, and too much money. She's invincible and nearly perfect (in her own eyes) but the redeeming quality is that she struggles with emptiness despite this. That aspect of her character at least rang true.
Unpopular opinion, I found this book extremely difficult to parse and comprehend, given the unusual style of writing as well as the usage of Maori. The pace alternates between sluggish and gripping. The plot has several loose ends - for eg. who is the old man? What is the significance of his dreams? What is the so-called mystery surrounding Simon given his unfortunate past? There are too many abstract elements to fathom though the depiction of love, abuse and complex human emotions is laudable.
emotional
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
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
I absolutely loved this book. I've never read anything with a similar writing style or character-building. While it took time to get used to the many interjecting unnamed perspectives, it ended up creating a rich, beautiful story. It was incredibly difficult to read at times due to the subject matter, but I cared deeply for all the characters - especially Simon - and read through actually weeping at one point. These characters were incredibly flawed, but because they were so well-written and developed, I was invested in their stories and, despite many misgivings, wanted to see them together.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very poetic style, sometimes hard to read. Worth it for the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse
This book is about a solitary recluse in a cool tower who loves dandelions and likes kids despite herself.
While I don't love dandelions in practice, I do love them in theory. And the rest suits.
So don't trust my star rating. Go and read it yourself and see if it tweaks your buttons.
While I don't love dandelions in practice, I do love them in theory. And the rest suits.
So don't trust my star rating. Go and read it yourself and see if it tweaks your buttons.
This book started off really well and I was enjoying the writing style. But the graphic child abuse hit me out of no where. There walere no trigger warnings mentioned when I checked reviews. I kept going but after a while I began to dislike the characters and their approach to the child abuse. I didn't think there was a point in reading further.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
If I could give this book half a star, I would. It was torture reading this book, and I had to for college. The writer was all over the place, never making herself clear, and her characters were boring and the plot was lacking. I threw this book across the room when I was finally done with it.