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challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a hard book to rate. There are some parts that I like but overall I found the book a bit hard to get into and read. I'm not sure why though, perhaps the language was a bit too complicated or it was told non-linearly. However, it is very fascinating at times too, and I can only imagine the language in the original English (I read the translated version). I also found it hard to connect to the characters even though I thought the book was best when all of the characters were present in one scene.
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-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
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
once again i love her writing, this story was okay but as is winter is okay
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really struggled with how to rate this. There’s so much I love about this book. The characters, the conversation, the setting, the writing! Oh boy the writing and style is so lovely and makes me want to read more Ali Smith. I loved the interactions between the characters, the banter, the conversations. I really just loved those bits.
BUT. The politics of it were so not subtle to the point of me rolling my eyes even though I whole-heartedly agree with Ali’s stances. Each transition to societal commentary was so jarring. Every time I was enjoying the character-driven portions of the story, politics or immigration or climate change would come up in such a heavy-handed way. Ali definitely could’ve made the same points in the story given the characters and situations she wrote because they are that interesting and well-written, but hitting us over the head a million times in the book felt lazy and insulting.
I still think this is definitely worth the read because the writing is so enjoyable, but it’s disappointing that it could’ve been so much more.
BUT. The politics of it were so not subtle to the point of me rolling my eyes even though I whole-heartedly agree with Ali’s stances. Each transition to societal commentary was so jarring. Every time I was enjoying the character-driven portions of the story, politics or immigration or climate change would come up in such a heavy-handed way. Ali definitely could’ve made the same points in the story given the characters and situations she wrote because they are that interesting and well-written, but hitting us over the head a million times in the book felt lazy and insulting.
I still think this is definitely worth the read because the writing is so enjoyable, but it’s disappointing that it could’ve been so much more.
I could read Ali Smith forever. I actually started this book at the tail end of Winter 2018, but put it off until it was the right season again, and I reveled in reading it. Smith weaves together such lyrical prose, and it haunts me.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My least favorite so far of Smith's seasonal quartet, but still a pleasant place to hang out for a while. I think the rhythm of these books is starting to get a little repetitive for me, and the "winter" sense didn't come through for me as strongly.
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
slow-paced
Initially, super hard to get into. But there’s certainly a turning point, about halfway through the book, at which I felt completely engrossed.
I can’t claim to understand every intelligent line, reference, or large scale political metaphor portrayed by Smith. But it’s clear she’s critiquing not only our past and current political climates, but the way we discuss and evolve (or not) from them. Iris is the left, Sophie is the right. The one thing clear to me, was reading this book was like staring at a made up puddle/muddle trying to see through to Smith’s most significant point. I’m still not sure what it is. But I know I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.
I can’t claim to understand every intelligent line, reference, or large scale political metaphor portrayed by Smith. But it’s clear she’s critiquing not only our past and current political climates, but the way we discuss and evolve (or not) from them. Iris is the left, Sophie is the right. The one thing clear to me, was reading this book was like staring at a made up puddle/muddle trying to see through to Smith’s most significant point. I’m still not sure what it is. But I know I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.
this book was not making me want to pick it up
maybe i’ll finish it later
gonna go read some toni morrison now to remember why i love reading
maybe i’ll finish it later
gonna go read some toni morrison now to remember why i love reading