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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
‘It was simple, it was daft, it was beautiful, it was Michael.’
I won’t describe the plot as I truly believe you should go into this book blind - the back cover only says it’s about Ellis and Michael and then a girl called Annie arrives. The reading experience, getting to understand the story, events fitting into place and character interactions are so worthwhile, it was of the upmost pleasure to read this book. I say that, but oh my did Winman give me all the feels and I can confirm I cried multiple times at this little book. Beautifully raw and heartbreaking writing adds to this but there’s also many lovely parts too - it’s quite the rollercoaster. I know I have to give this book a reread (and it’ll be horrible knowing what’s to come as I do so) to cement my thoughts because in many ways I’m at a loss for words after finishing it. I do know it’s instantly became a new favourite of mine and I’m extremely grateful to have read this book. Please read it, you will not regret it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Death of parent
A 2018 staff favorite recommended by Ellen J. Read her review on the Cook Memorial Public Library's blog, Shelf Life: https://shelflife.cooklib.org/2018/04/24/ellens-pick-of-the-week-tin-man-by-sarah-winman/
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1651103__Stin%20man%20winman__Orightresult__U__X2?lang=eng&suite=gold
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1651103__Stin%20man%20winman__Orightresult__U__X2?lang=eng&suite=gold
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
No quotation marks on speech are a redflag idc
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
It starts off with a woman who defies her husband by choosing a painting instead of a whiskey for her raffle prize. Tin Man blossoms the heart-wrenching story of Dora’s son named Ellis and his best friend, Michael. The two boys who made a little world where they slipped into, sharing a silent, hymnal language of youthful boyhood and secrecy-bounded love affair. But I’d say this book is more than that.
"And the way he said it was gentle and direct and uninhibited, as if the death of love was normal."
Tin Man is a masterpiece: a written archetype of love, friendship, and most especially grief; brimmed of tenderness that holds the readers by the hand gently as it weaves them through this memorable tapestry, illustrating a picture of “...color photograph of three people, a woman and two men. They are tightly framed, their arms around one another, and the world beyond is out of focus, and the world on either side excluded. They look happy, they really do. Not just because they are smiling but because there is something in their eyes, an ease, a joy, something they share,” as well as the noteworthy women in their lives.
"Men and boys should be capable of beautiful things. Never forget that,"
The sadness undertone drenched in memories really amplified the overall atmosphere of this book for me. Divided in three parts: the first section is in the perspective of Ellis, whose heart is heavily dampened by loneliness and grief. The way he deals with it made me feel exactly the way he does. I felt sadness surfaces cracks in my heart as Ellis get lost in remembrances of his loved-ones. He’s like that old man living alone that you see sitting in his front porch, deep in his emotions and thoughts. I can’t help but sympathize with him. The second part is told through the diary of Michael, which is crucial to unfold the whole picture, where he explores sexual identity and shows the pain and yet another grief of meeting people and losing them too soon. The last part goes back to Ellis, the ending of the story.
"Life was not as fun without Michael. Life was not as colorful without him. Life was not life without him."
But aside from these two men, there is also Annie, the woman that Ellis later married, who became part of their tight friendship. She is one of the precious women that I loved in this book.
"I’m broken by my need for others. By the erotic dance of memory that pounces when loneliness falls."
Tin Man deals with a lot of loss and the grief that follows such. But the storytelling is so gentle that despite being a heartbreaking tale, it is also somewhat comforting. It’s sad, beautiful, tragic, yet with touches of hope. I really loved this and I think this is one those books that I will never forget. It’s just a short book, but packed with so deep emotions; I wasn’t even halfway yet but it's already killing me. So powerful and emotional, it held me on a gentle drive towards learning the grief from the love you feel.
"Autumn knocks on the window. I pull back the sliding doors and let it in. Lights from the meat market flicker and car lights streak the gloom. Overhead the pulse of airplane wings replaces the stars. The flat is quiet. This is loneliness."
"And the way he said it was gentle and direct and uninhibited, as if the death of love was normal."
Tin Man is a masterpiece: a written archetype of love, friendship, and most especially grief; brimmed of tenderness that holds the readers by the hand gently as it weaves them through this memorable tapestry, illustrating a picture of “...color photograph of three people, a woman and two men. They are tightly framed, their arms around one another, and the world beyond is out of focus, and the world on either side excluded. They look happy, they really do. Not just because they are smiling but because there is something in their eyes, an ease, a joy, something they share,” as well as the noteworthy women in their lives.
"Men and boys should be capable of beautiful things. Never forget that,"
The sadness undertone drenched in memories really amplified the overall atmosphere of this book for me. Divided in three parts: the first section is in the perspective of Ellis, whose heart is heavily dampened by loneliness and grief. The way he deals with it made me feel exactly the way he does. I felt sadness surfaces cracks in my heart as Ellis get lost in remembrances of his loved-ones. He’s like that old man living alone that you see sitting in his front porch, deep in his emotions and thoughts. I can’t help but sympathize with him. The second part is told through the diary of Michael, which is crucial to unfold the whole picture, where he explores sexual identity and shows the pain and yet another grief of meeting people and losing them too soon. The last part goes back to Ellis, the ending of the story.
"Life was not as fun without Michael. Life was not as colorful without him. Life was not life without him."
But aside from these two men, there is also Annie, the woman that Ellis later married, who became part of their tight friendship. She is one of the precious women that I loved in this book.
"I’m broken by my need for others. By the erotic dance of memory that pounces when loneliness falls."
Tin Man deals with a lot of loss and the grief that follows such. But the storytelling is so gentle that despite being a heartbreaking tale, it is also somewhat comforting. It’s sad, beautiful, tragic, yet with touches of hope. I really loved this and I think this is one those books that I will never forget. It’s just a short book, but packed with so deep emotions; I wasn’t even halfway yet but it's already killing me. So powerful and emotional, it held me on a gentle drive towards learning the grief from the love you feel.
"Autumn knocks on the window. I pull back the sliding doors and let it in. Lights from the meat market flicker and car lights streak the gloom. Overhead the pulse of airplane wings replaces the stars. The flat is quiet. This is loneliness."
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Such a tender and touching piece about love, life, and loss. Truly a work of art that has left me heartbroken.
Okay, I’ve started and stopped this book soooooooo many times. I don’t know why because I loved it, I would say 4.5 ⭐️ almost a 5 but something in me hesitates. The writing is beautiful, the emotionality gut wrenching—I felt like one big blob of feelings reading this book. Perhaps I finally finished it in a weird season of life and I KNOW I will some day reread it even though I am most definitely not a regraded. Wingman creates something beautiful and raw in these pages. I will reread and review again when I can formulate coherent thoughts. For now, I am grateful for what this book made me feel.
emotional
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes