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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i liked the repetition of names. the slow devolving of gay marriage rights was pretty interesting, and the themes throughout the novel were cool.
not much else to say.
not much else to say.
This book is one long exercise in asking how do politics and environment affect who we are and who we want to be. Through three separate experiences over the course of hundreds of years we see the human experience from the perspective of the marginalized even within powerful circles. What diminishes them is not just lifestyle but the freedom to pursue it with the love and support of family. Everyone is seeking their own paradise it just isn’t what they initially thought it would be.
That quest for an Elysian future sets up an intimate look at the tough decisions we have to make to pursue our dreams, and spotlights the people we lose along the way. Each loss tarnishes the images of the past, present, and future and blur the lines between them. Our protagonists end up rewriting history into something that fits with their jarred worldview. That new narrative frees up the space to continue pushing toward paradise, though it will be incomplete.
The structure of the book creates rich vignettes into three separate individual perspectives on love and life that also share some common themes. However, the same format creates some confusion as to what we’re supposed to be following and make for rough transitions. I hate to say it, but the book, or books depending on how you look at it, is too long. It droned on in sections that really added nothing to the story or added character development. It demanded a Herculean reading effort and provided no final resolution; leaving only the bitter taste of frustration on your tongue.
Much of the plot and character development is lacking and could have been achieved to the same effect or better in short story format. Hanya Yanigihara is a brilliant writer with an ability to execute in different styles and language, which creates voices that are believable and unique. However, the packaging of these separate experiences just did not do it for me. I was left intrigued by some of the questions posed but also exhausted by the waves of endless exposition that could have been cut. “Leave the World Behind” by Rumaan Alam, accomplishes much of the same storytelling at a fraction of the length.
That quest for an Elysian future sets up an intimate look at the tough decisions we have to make to pursue our dreams, and spotlights the people we lose along the way. Each loss tarnishes the images of the past, present, and future and blur the lines between them. Our protagonists end up rewriting history into something that fits with their jarred worldview. That new narrative frees up the space to continue pushing toward paradise, though it will be incomplete.
The structure of the book creates rich vignettes into three separate individual perspectives on love and life that also share some common themes. However, the same format creates some confusion as to what we’re supposed to be following and make for rough transitions. I hate to say it, but the book, or books depending on how you look at it, is too long. It droned on in sections that really added nothing to the story or added character development. It demanded a Herculean reading effort and provided no final resolution; leaving only the bitter taste of frustration on your tongue.
Much of the plot and character development is lacking and could have been achieved to the same effect or better in short story format. Hanya Yanigihara is a brilliant writer with an ability to execute in different styles and language, which creates voices that are believable and unique. However, the packaging of these separate experiences just did not do it for me. I was left intrigued by some of the questions posed but also exhausted by the waves of endless exposition that could have been cut. “Leave the World Behind” by Rumaan Alam, accomplishes much of the same storytelling at a fraction of the length.
I mostly enjoyed the experience of reading this; the world-building and narrative are more nuanced and less trauma porn-y than A Little Life. There is some wild stuff going on re: vaccines and lockdowns, so do with that what you will.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Police brutality
medium-paced
Felt like I was waiting until the last page for all the stories to connect beyond the characters names. The third story was much more interesting and could have been a book in itself. Loved the characterisation and the relationship between Charlie and her grandfather.