Reviews

Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann

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scorwin's review against another edition

4.0

The fact that as tempting as it may be to "review" Ducks, Newburyport in this format it would an overused and exhaustive exercise, the fact that countless readers before me have beaten me to the punch, the fact that I decidedly lack Ellmann's virtuosity and this would likely become grating to read after the third clause... the fact that I think I've made my point.

This novel is an overwhelming, singular experience. This 1.8lb (yes, I weighed it) brick is, at its most conceptual level, an enormous paradox of utter ignorance and profound brilliance. As I alluded to above, it's the culmination of thousands of independent clauses and non-sequiturs that abandons traditional grammar in favour of a Joycean stream-of-conscious. Let me reiterate: over a thousand pages, in one sentence. Well, sort of - there are occasional interludes of conventional prose told from an... "unconventional narrator". I have no doubt that this approach will unapologetically alienate large swathes of Ellmann’s audience. But to those who remain and are willing to plumb the depths of this narrator’s mind, they will find beautiful paroxysms of anxiety, a host of very twenty-first century fears, and new perspective on what it means to have an identity.

This novel will test the upper limits of the reader's patience and I considered abandoning ship every hundred pages or so. Yet something kept drawing me back to it and knew I couldn't leave this one-of-kind novel unfinished. Ellmann's creative genius (and I don't use that word lightly) is in her knowledge that the mind comprises an endless stream of noise. If you're willing to sift through it, you will - and I promise you this - find meditations on the human condition that I'm confident have never been captured before.

ashleykorine's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

ryanjb86's review against another edition

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5.0

Wow! This book just amazed me. Over 1000 pages of stream of consciousness and mostly just one long sentence. It all just worked! Ironically I don't have enough / the right words to give this book justice. For anyone who likes a challenge in book length but a light story regarding plot and language. Please make the effort! .
"the fact that we all go on pretending things are fine, hoping everything’s a-okay, even though everything is nowhere near okay and we all know it, no matter how many candlelit vigils you hold"

jtth's review against another edition

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5.0

A singular, unique, and amazing work that shows a whole human being in the right now.

laurynmailey's review against another edition

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5.0

I loved this book so much and I know it will stay with me forever (and probably every thought in my head will also start with 'the fact that...' for the rest of my life).

Highlights: All the parts about the lioness, the descriptions of dreams, how well I feel I know everyone in the housewife's life, from Abby to Jesus of New Philadelphia.

Also that last sentence/line/thought- flawless.

Perfect! So worth the time investment.

Tip: Get the audiobook narrated by Stephanie Ellyne!