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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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:
Complicated
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked it a lot. The satire is on point.
The book has two stories, you can choose which one you read first, then just flip the book around and read the other one.
I especially loved Lyle’s story, and the dystopian Australia as a back-drop. Lili’s story felt a little old (how many romantasized living in france in the 80s stories can one read?); the intrigue in her section was definitely more subtle and heavier toward the end of the story.
All in all a great reading experience, i would absolutely recommend this.
The book has two stories, you can choose which one you read first, then just flip the book around and read the other one.
I especially loved Lyle’s story, and the dystopian Australia as a back-drop. Lili’s story felt a little old (how many romantasized living in france in the 80s stories can one read?); the intrigue in her section was definitely more subtle and heavier toward the end of the story.
All in all a great reading experience, i would absolutely recommend this.
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ugh i need to talk through this book w someone to understand it better
Lyle's story clicked quite easily for me - excellent unreliable narrator, well constructed near future dystopia, lots of fun motifs to unpack (still haven't quite worked out his word issue though)
Lili's story was a bit more difficult - could be that I read it when I was very sleepy, but it seemed quite intentionally disorienting with all the people and a kind of unclear timeline?? This was interesting and definitely seems to have some thematic reason that currently eludes me
Regardless nifty reflections on memory and misogyny and racism and all that cool stuff
My main nitpick is that de kretser did something unique and fun by making this book double sided and I really thought that its actual contents would lean into that a lot more and there would be some clear connection but unless I've missed something it's just a very generic Which One You Read First Will Impact Your Experience vibe
Lyle's story clicked quite easily for me - excellent unreliable narrator, well constructed near future dystopia, lots of fun motifs to unpack (still haven't quite worked out his word issue though)
Lili's story was a bit more difficult - could be that I read it when I was very sleepy, but it seemed quite intentionally disorienting with all the people and a kind of unclear timeline?? This was interesting and definitely seems to have some thematic reason that currently eludes me
Regardless nifty reflections on memory and misogyny and racism and all that cool stuff
My main nitpick is that de kretser did something unique and fun by making this book double sided and I really thought that its actual contents would lean into that a lot more and there would be some clear connection but unless I've missed something it's just a very generic Which One You Read First Will Impact Your Experience vibe
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Two novellas, one a dystopia, one a memoir. Not sure how they are related but I loved them both.
emotional
informative
mysterious
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:
Yes
I would actually give this a 3.5 if that were possible. Both of the two stories are compelling, and the idea of opposing them so that the reader can choose which to read first is clever. I started with Lyle, the future character in the dystopian Australia, and I do wonder if I'd have liked it better if I'd gone with Lili, the 1980 character. Other reviewers have praised the beauty and insight of de Kretser's prose, and it really is lovely, with moments of breath-taking clarity. Yet I didn't find the message to support the experimental structure: we see how the roots of dystopian Australia can be found in Lili's and the other immigrants' experiences of Australia, France, and England. But I didn't think that the juxtaposed stories added a lot to that message, even though (as I said) I enjoyed both of them.
Anyway, I'm definitely going to read more of de Kretser's fiction, and, with more reflection, I may also revise this assessment.
Anyway, I'm definitely going to read more of de Kretser's fiction, and, with more reflection, I may also revise this assessment.
If you start reading this book, read the dark cherry side first! The white blossom side is much more interesting, so I'd definitely save it for last to avoid disappointment.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes