Reviews - Hiver | The StoryGraph

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1.88k reviews for:

Hiver

Ali Smith

3.84 AVERAGE

wendybookishthoughts's review against another edition

4.5

challenging reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

shimmery's review against another edition

4.0

What I love so much about this book (and all Ali Smith’s books) is how generous she is with her characters. She manages to put together people with completely different ideologies at the centre of her novels (in this case sisters Sophia and Ire) and not take sides with either. I really liked the exploration of family dynamics and relationships, politics, history and art. A huge amount of ground to be covered in one novel - the story crosses back and forth through time as it remember's Ire and Sophia's childhood and the history of the house much of the story is set in.

I always learn a lot when I read books by Ali Smith, she has such insatiable curiosity and manages to explore and explain all sorts of diverse objects and happenings. My favourite thing I learnt from this one is why the man with a bird of prey is always in King’s Cross. This had become something of a myth in my family with my sister saying she always saw him. Apparently he’s there to get rid of the pigeons. In another part she makes polystyrene peanuts used in packaging sound magical. She really is so talented.

maryvdb2024's review against another edition

5.0

Another excellent book from Ali Smith. I love the way she presents contemporary issues in a straightforward and palpable way. Dickens and Shakespearean references are woven in with ease. Her prose is a delight to read and the underlying humour and sense of everything being cyclical palpable. Ali Smith is one of the few writers I willingly re-read and discover things I missed the first time around.

sabinagruden's review against another edition

5.0

You really need to take your time with Ali Smith. Narrative is not linear and at the beginning you have no idea what is going on and what kind of book it is. This was my second Ali Smith's book, and the beginnings are tough and (for me) a bit annoying but once you fall into the story, it really is a beautiful experience and the story starts to fall into it's place. I really enjoyed it in the end.

illyanadallas222's review against another edition

3.0

Man, I am really trying here. Like I wish, I wish I could get into this book. But this writing style in this series is just not it it for me. I am giving it 3 stars instead of 2, for the absolute imagination, ode to winter feels (christmas!!!!!) and intention behind this series. But these narrators (who do not use any "" when speaking!) is to metaphysical for me XD. I don't get Sophia's severed head ghost, nor the art imagines... I can't get behind the fluid/wandering/metaphysical thoughts? As the reader, we wouldn't get to know any or have the ability to like the other characters either. I Don't think I will be continuing this seasonal quartet series... I was hesitant to start it to begin with but I bought the books already, so I might have as well given it a shot. Delusional or demented thoughts are brilliant when well done, but I finished the book with the feeling that the context of this novel had gone absolutely over my head...