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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
kind of confusing…? I prefer books with quotation marks to delineate dialogue ty. mysterious and vague but poetic
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a good book. The story about losing and finding faith is not something I have experienced personally but it was written so well that I felt I could relate. When I finished the book I immediately when back and read the first few chapters to pick up on the details I didn’t understand at the start but are explained later in the story… it is definitely a book I want to read again. Incredible vocabulary in the book also - I wanted to write down all the new words I was learning ! but in the end just went with it and inferred their meaning.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
I love the writing style, a kind of prose-y free-verse poetry.
Thinking a lot about this quote as the thesis of the novel:
“I’ve thought so often…of the idea that longing should be allowed the chance to find its object…It’s a privilege to have loved: with each loss, I’ve gained practice in the divine.”
Thinking a lot about this quote as the thesis of the novel:
“I’ve thought so often…of the idea that longing should be allowed the chance to find its object…It’s a privilege to have loved: with each loss, I’ve gained practice in the divine.”
I guess it was intentional that Phoebe, the most compelling character who is drawn into the cult, is out of reach, largely characterized through others. But I wanted to know more about her and more about the cult and maybe my frustration with not knowing is similar to the frustration of people who’ve lost loved ones to cult! Anyway good writing.
“The incendiaries” by R O Kwon is a novel about extremism in love, religion and politics, set in campus life. Very readable and only a little disturbing.
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Vomit, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Deportation
The book has mystery elements, trying to piece the story together. But it's much much more than that.
It is very strong on the themes of grief, belief, relationships of all kinds, guilt. And it tackles all these themes from different angles and plays them off of multiple characters and situations. I thought it especially novel and interesting to play Phoebe's attraction to a cult and Will's attraction to his relationship with Phoebe similarly. I wouldn't say Kwon equates being in a bad relationship with being on a cult. But there are lots of parallels that are hard to miss.
I haven't read a cult leader that remains scary, while still being understandable this good since Station Eleven.
My one complaint, I would interject, is about 60-70% of sentences are chopped up like this one. Or, it seems, there are a lot of commas, that sometimes seem superfluous, and also chop up the flow of reading. If it was written this way to create a constant state of low level discomfort, bravo. Interesting and effective. If it wasn't done for this effect, meh. Either way it pulled me out of the story at times.
No pressure R.O, but I'm already looking forward to your next work!
It is very strong on the themes of grief, belief, relationships of all kinds, guilt. And it tackles all these themes from different angles and plays them off of multiple characters and situations. I thought it especially novel and interesting to play Phoebe's attraction to a cult and Will's attraction to his relationship with Phoebe similarly. I wouldn't say Kwon equates being in a bad relationship with being on a cult. But there are lots of parallels that are hard to miss.
I haven't read a cult leader that remains scary, while still being understandable this good since Station Eleven.
My one complaint, I would interject, is about 60-70% of sentences are chopped up like this one. Or, it seems, there are a lot of commas, that sometimes seem superfluous, and also chop up the flow of reading. If it was written this way to create a constant state of low level discomfort, bravo. Interesting and effective. If it wasn't done for this effect, meh. Either way it pulled me out of the story at times.
No pressure R.O, but I'm already looking forward to your next work!
I love everything about this book.
Usually a 210-page book is a one-, maybe two-day read for me. I’ve never really understood when people say they intentionally read a book more slowly to savor it, but The Incendiaries is written to be savored. It’s only the second* book in my recent memory that I didn’t want to end — I want R. O. Kwon’s prose injected directly into my veins. Reading in the car makes me sick, but I read the last 30 pages or so on my way to work (not driving) because I couldn’t put it down.
I’m a little bit in love with all of the characters, even though they’re all a little bit terrible. They’re so real; I think I might recognize Will if he walked by me. And I kind of want to give Phoebe a hug.
In short: read this book. Please. It’s amazing.
*The first was Middlesex, and that was at least 40% because of the audiobook narration.
Usually a 210-page book is a one-, maybe two-day read for me. I’ve never really understood when people say they intentionally read a book more slowly to savor it, but The Incendiaries is written to be savored. It’s only the second* book in my recent memory that I didn’t want to end — I want R. O. Kwon’s prose injected directly into my veins. Reading in the car makes me sick, but I read the last 30 pages or so on my way to work (not driving) because I couldn’t put it down.
I’m a little bit in love with all of the characters, even though they’re all a little bit terrible. They’re so real; I think I might recognize Will if he walked by me. And I kind of want to give Phoebe a hug.
In short: read this book. Please. It’s amazing.
*The first was Middlesex, and that was at least 40% because of the audiobook narration.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No