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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well, it is different that what I've read until now. It really is "A novel in warnings". It was a bit difficult to connect with.
This will be a difficult book to describe, as I don't want to give any details away- this is a book that should wash over you, I think, so the less you know going in, the better. I quite enjoyed this book, but I can see it's not going to be for everyone. There isn't much of a plot, for one thing, and Bina (that's Bye-na, I feel obliged to point out, not Beena) is not the most easy to follow narrator. She's forgetful, and repeats herself occasionally; she's elusive, not wanting to give up information that may incriminate herself or others; and she's angry and done with it all, she's taken to her bed with no intention of leaving it. Before the end, she wants to leave you with her warnings and her remarkings, written out on the backs of receipts, old bills, whatever paper she has handy. Writing it out helps her remember her story and get everything straight in her head. Bina has been accused of doing something bad, and she's trying to get her story straight before she goes to court, you see. We do eventually learn what happened, the tension building steadily throughout the narrative till I could barely turn away at the end. We get to know Bina, her inner workings; she's angry, frightened, heartbroken from loss, but she's not going to let all that get in the way of what she needs to do- leave her warnings, the wisdom she's gained in her 74 years. If you're looking for lots of action and clarity, this probably isn't the book for you. If you'd like a good character study, a no-nonsense look into a complicated life, I'd highly recommend this to you.
#Bina #NetGalley
#Bina #NetGalley
Bina: A Novel in Warnings by Anakana Schofield
I can’t even write a real review for this book because I literally do not know what it is about. It has no plot. It’s written as if the title character is writing it on the back of scraps of paper as she lays in bed. But it’s just very vague I have no idea what it’s about. It’s also super repetitive. Ugh. I just really didn’t enjoy this one.
1/5
I can’t even write a real review for this book because I literally do not know what it is about. It has no plot. It’s written as if the title character is writing it on the back of scraps of paper as she lays in bed. But it’s just very vague I have no idea what it’s about. It’s also super repetitive. Ugh. I just really didn’t enjoy this one.
1/5
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Bina is an aging Irish woman who has had enough. She's filled this book with warnings so that you, reader, won't find yourself in the situation she's in now--on her way to jail, probably. And she was just trying to help people! Bina's voice is no-nonsense and very funny, but she can also be tender, especially when it comes to her best friend, Phil. This feminist book of experimental fiction is about grief and fire and love and people.