Scan barcode
samwisest's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A sometimes brutal, often informative and surprisingly tense read. I did a lot of highlighting with this book - partly because I was reading it for a class, but honestly mostly because the language used throughout to describe the landscape & its people is really rich.
Harvest highlights the achingly human side of a major historical event by laser-focusing in on the story of one tiny rural village & their slow descent from idyllic farm-life into desperation and violence. Everything in this book comes back to the unstoppable force that was the Agricultural Revolution, and leaves you with the feeling that it left just as much devastation as it did progress in its wake.
The pacing of this book is pretty slow, which I found enjoyable in the beginning as it allowed me more time to sit with the colourful imagery of this world that is so far removed from my own.
As it progressed however, I found myself surprised when characters would mention that only a day or so had passed since events that felt in book-time like they’d occurred weeks ago. By the end especially, when narrator Walt is at his most introspective, the slow pace can really be felt. Still, I was invested enough in the many layers of mystery and darkness that enshroud this tale (which I did not expect from a book about the Enclosure Act) that I didn’t mind being made to stick around that bit longer.
Harvest highlights the achingly human side of a major historical event by laser-focusing in on the story of one tiny rural village & their slow descent from idyllic farm-life into desperation and violence. Everything in this book comes back to the unstoppable force that was the Agricultural Revolution, and leaves you with the feeling that it left just as much devastation as it did progress in its wake.
The pacing of this book is pretty slow, which I found enjoyable in the beginning as it allowed me more time to sit with the colourful imagery of this world that is so far removed from my own.
As it progressed however, I found myself surprised when characters would mention that only a day or so had passed since events that felt in book-time like they’d occurred weeks ago. By the end especially, when narrator Walt is at his most introspective, the slow pace can really be felt. Still, I was invested enough in the many layers of mystery and darkness that enshroud this tale (which I did not expect from a book about the Enclosure Act) that I didn’t mind being made to stick around that bit longer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Animal death
Moderate: Torture, Sexual assault, and Murder
More...