Reviews

Amphibian by Christina Neuwirth

littlenerdyscot's review

funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

madding78's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

katydaly's review

2.0

An excellent concept with some watery (har har) execution. Thankfully brief though and redeemed by chapters 8 and 9, in which Neuwirth seems braver and more willing to be a writer.

A particular low point for me was: "She had always secretly suspected that her work at MoneyTownCashGrowth was meaningless. She had her clients and sold them things, but none of it actually meant anything." Yawn. The unoriginality of this just irks me. What is the need to waste paper expressing this? Show me it, or at least tell it in an interesting way and not like a conversation I'd overhear in a pub.

Sometimes the absurdity just lacked joy - it felt like she wasn't connecting with these ludicrous images and I really wanted the concept to be revelled in.

But, as I say, the ending really saved it for me. Well executed with some decent writing. Wish it had been a short story and not a novella.

saestrah's review

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

samvansam's review

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

it's a metaphor, daddy!

emmalouisereads's review

funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I went to Edinburgh for a holiday and visited a cute bookshop (Lighthouse Books) with the aim of picking up a little Scottish read.

This was the perfect little holiday read. Similar vibes to a Kafka book I read a while back. 

It’s surreal, a little amusing and just does what it set out to do. 

scruffie's review

lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

finlaaaay's review

4.0

A slim novella that is relevant to anyone that's ever worked in a company. And also relevant to me because it's set in my hometown.

Neuwirth expertly takes an absolutely absurd situation, but writes it totally seriously, as if it was really possible. What would be the ramifications of such a thing? for instance. And the writing is funny, too. Looking forward to seeing more from her.

foggy_rosamund's review

4.0

I picked this up in the wonderful Edinburgh independent book shop, Lighthouse Books. It's an imaginative, surreal novella, in which a floor of an office building is slowly filling with water. This is because the workers are deemed by the administration not to be performing well enough. First the water rises to their ankles, and then gradually swallows them up. This element is developed in absolutely realistic manner, exploring what it would mean to work under water, but it's also a clever commentary on office life, and the arbitrary decisions of management. A witty, angry book -- recommended.

jreis's review

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75