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thebooklifeof_hannah's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A stunning debut that gets at least 4 stars from me immediately. It could grow to 5 and I’ll tell you why. This is a series of short stories that are all linked (with a common setting or relationship to Guernsey). These interlinked stories explore life and all it’s messiness, the loss, the lies and the lessons.
I enjoyed that the stories could easily be read as stand alone tales but Hinshaw gives us an added ooomph by the linking of them to one another. Some stories I delighted in more than others but overall, I really felt captivated my this novel. I especially loved that we are given characters at all different stages of life.
It is a book I think I’ll need to reread, potentially a few times. I found myself unsure of the links at times and skipping back through to figure it out. If I reread then I’d tab for new characters to make it easier. Also, Hinshaw pulled me in so brilliantly with his cleverly sharp writing but at times I found myself so immersed that I probably missed hidden meanings and observations. It’s a novel I’d like to go back and study, if that makes sense?
A really impressive debut and I can’t wait to delve into more of Hinshaw’s writing in the future.
Thanks very much to the publisher for the ARC!
I enjoyed that the stories could easily be read as stand alone tales but Hinshaw gives us an added ooomph by the linking of them to one another. Some stories I delighted in more than others but overall, I really felt captivated my this novel. I especially loved that we are given characters at all different stages of life.
It is a book I think I’ll need to reread, potentially a few times. I found myself unsure of the links at times and skipping back through to figure it out. If I reread then I’d tab for new characters to make it easier. Also, Hinshaw pulled me in so brilliantly with his cleverly sharp writing but at times I found myself so immersed that I probably missed hidden meanings and observations. It’s a novel I’d like to go back and study, if that makes sense?
A really impressive debut and I can’t wait to delve into more of Hinshaw’s writing in the future.
Thanks very much to the publisher for the ARC!
louinspace's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC!
"Exactly what you mean" is Hinshaw's debut novel, and a very interesting one indeed.
At first, it may seem like a collection of short stories more than a novel, but the more you read, the more you detect how all these characters' stories come together and link through time, places and emotional common ground.
Hinshaw's writing is clear, precise and flows very well; it is placid and controlled, which contrasts and highlights very well the sense of loss and uncertainty the characters experience.
I especially appreciated the setting of these chapters/stories, particularly the island of Guernsey with its narrow society and broad view of the ocean, the perfect backdrop to the stories of the characters, torn between personal identity and social conventions.
I really enjoyed this read, even though at times it felt like some of the stories were too detached from the whole of the book, and in some instances it was a bit hard to keep track of how these characters were linked to each other and identify the point in time each story was set in and how they fit together as a whole.
All in all, "Exactly what you mean" is a solid and intelligent debut, with interesting themes and style elements that I'm sure the author will develop even further in the future.
I will definitely be happy to read more by him.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC!
"Exactly what you mean" is Hinshaw's debut novel, and a very interesting one indeed.
At first, it may seem like a collection of short stories more than a novel, but the more you read, the more you detect how all these characters' stories come together and link through time, places and emotional common ground.
Hinshaw's writing is clear, precise and flows very well; it is placid and controlled, which contrasts and highlights very well the sense of loss and uncertainty the characters experience.
I especially appreciated the setting of these chapters/stories, particularly the island of Guernsey with its narrow society and broad view of the ocean, the perfect backdrop to the stories of the characters, torn between personal identity and social conventions.
I really enjoyed this read, even though at times it felt like some of the stories were too detached from the whole of the book, and in some instances it was a bit hard to keep track of how these characters were linked to each other and identify the point in time each story was set in and how they fit together as a whole.
All in all, "Exactly what you mean" is a solid and intelligent debut, with interesting themes and style elements that I'm sure the author will develop even further in the future.
I will definitely be happy to read more by him.
violetisreading's review against another edition
Wasn't grabbing me, couldn't connect with the characters or connect to the plot
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