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annabunce's review
challenging
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.5
Great writing, realistic responses from characters, engrossing!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Drug use
Minor: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
grubrednuf's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was good, great character introspection and development. Even if one of the characters I find most annoying ends up playing a larger role than first suggested. And the third act does pick up the pace significantly. But also maybe... This is just Macbeth and maybe a little Hamlet.
Rosie = Rosencrantz
Lady Jill = Lady Macbeth
Etc etc etc
Rosie = Rosencrantz
Lady Jill = Lady Macbeth
Etc etc etc
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Drug use, Blood, Bullying, Animal death, and Gaslighting
Minor: Murder, Colonisation, and Sexual content
jodar's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
As its title foreshadows, this engrossing novel brilliantly captures the convictions and flaws of its characters with the intensity of a Shakespearean tragedy. Set in New Zealand a few years before the arrival of COVID-19, the reader becomes immersed in the lives and thoughts of a group of left-wing conservationists on the one hand and of a right-wing, exploitative, capitalistic, narcissistic billionaire on the other.
The eco characters articulate altruistic motivations to their inner circle and into the public sphere, but in reality they have fragile motivations and commit all-too-human deceits and self-deceits. Catton portrays the discourse of their leftist debates astutely: highly intellectualised, intense and judgemental, they are aimed at challenging political ‘orthodoxy’ but ironically the debates can never establish ‘true belief’; there is always some political grievance somewhere not yet properly addressed, some newly fashionable socio-political theory not yet brought to bear. In contrast, the billionaire is not conflicted: he has unwavering, sociopathic aims. Although presenting himself as a philanthropist to the world, through technological and psychological means he cunningly exploits personal and institutional weaknesses for his own ends. As for the more minor characters of middle-aged ‘middle’ New Zealand, they are moderate in their worldviews, even though they are not without their own deceits and weaknesses. Their impact, though, is largely ineffectual in the face of the major political forces at play.
When the conservationist group and the billionaire become uneasy bedfellows, the pressure of conflict gradually builds and builds. The novel’s explosive ending shocks even as it seems inevitable.
A couple of minor criticisms on word choice:
The eco characters articulate altruistic motivations to their inner circle and into the public sphere, but in reality they have fragile motivations and commit all-too-human deceits and self-deceits. Catton portrays the discourse of their leftist debates astutely: highly intellectualised, intense and judgemental, they are aimed at challenging political ‘orthodoxy’ but ironically the debates can never establish ‘true belief’; there is always some political grievance somewhere not yet properly addressed, some newly fashionable socio-political theory not yet brought to bear. In contrast, the billionaire is not conflicted: he has unwavering, sociopathic aims. Although presenting himself as a philanthropist to the world, through technological and psychological means he cunningly exploits personal and institutional weaknesses for his own ends. As for the more minor characters of middle-aged ‘middle’ New Zealand, they are moderate in their worldviews, even though they are not without their own deceits and weaknesses. Their impact, though, is largely ineffectual in the face of the major political forces at play.
When the conservationist group and the billionaire become uneasy bedfellows, the pressure of conflict gradually builds and builds. The novel’s explosive ending shocks even as it seems inevitable.
A couple of minor criticisms on word choice:
- p. 281 ‘enormity of her love for him’ from context does not mean her love was extremely atrocious, despite the misuse of ‘enormity’.
- ‘on either side’ is used in several places when the sense of ‘on each side’ or ‘on both sides’ is probably intended rather than the literal meaning of ‘on one side or the other’.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Gun violence
Minor: Drug use
sshabein's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
In some ways, this book is the spiritual successor to Catton's previous novel, The Luminaries — nefarious businessmen, money to be made off elements in the ground, and the consequences of entangling yourself with the sort of person who sees you as a means to an end. However, Birnam Wood is definitely not the same book, moving us to the modern day fictional area of Thorndike, New Zealand. There are young idealists, gardeners who just want to save the world a little a time, and the willful ignorance of the always upwardly-grasping rich (and the ultra-rich taking advantage of them all). Everyone is compromised in their own way, despite their posturing and efforts to appear otherwise. You definitely won't like everyone here, but that's not the point.
If I had any complaints, the semi-abrupt ending left me with a few questions, but I also see what Catton was doing with it. When pressed against the wall, when you only have what is in front of you to work with, all your speeches and myth-making no longer matter. With the time remaining, what are you able to DO?
If I had any complaints, the semi-abrupt ending left me with a few questions, but I also see what Catton was doing with it. When pressed against the wall, when you only have what is in front of you to work with, all your speeches and myth-making no longer matter. With the time remaining, what are you able to DO?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gun violence, and Violence
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