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jamogo's review against another edition
1.0
DNF’d at 30%. Had a lot of trouble with the storyline and felt that it just got bogged down in metaphors and wasn’t really going anywhere.
persypie's review against another edition
5.0
“And the Air was full of Thoughts and Things to Say. But at times like these, only the Small Things are ever said. The Big Things lurk unsaid inside.”
A story told through time, yet somehow more painful for each new revelation. This is going to leave an ache in my heart for a lifetime.
Exquisite.
A story told through time, yet somehow more painful for each new revelation. This is going to leave an ache in my heart for a lifetime.
Exquisite.
anna_m_k's review against another edition
Unfortunately, I cannot see what its fans and the Booker Prize saw in this book. While the language is evocative, Roy really overused repetition as a literary device. And the attempt to have a childish narrator during the childhood time period personally did not work and created a confused narrative voice. The hopping time periods and the social commentary was very interesting. But I did not find any of fhe characters compelling enough to follow through.
Additionally, the way fat and disabled bodies were described were othering and deeply cruel. The fact that two characters were fat was constantly mentioned alongside their moral and personality failings.
Additionally, the way fat and disabled bodies were described were othering and deeply cruel. The fact that two characters were fat was constantly mentioned alongside their moral and personality failings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Pedophilia
Moderate: Child death and Classism
judgybitch's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
chezzybooks1984's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
spirallycoiled's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautiful book! I loved it—the story, the storytelling, the style, the metaphors.
At first, I found it a little confusing to grasp the narrative due to the back-and-forth structure and the character names, but once I got the hang of it, I was immersed in Roy's universe, with its rich language and vivid imagery.
At first, I found it a little confusing to grasp the narrative due to the back-and-forth structure and the character names, but once I got the hang of it, I was immersed in Roy's universe, with its rich language and vivid imagery.
fowg2024's review against another edition
5.0
By far one of the most moving books i've ever read. I just hope that they don't make a movie out of it.
cgonzo's review against another edition
3.0
The plot was very difficult to follow at times. I think a lot of it has to do with the style of writing in which Roy switches back and forth between setting and time frame. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book as a whole.