1.9k reviews for:

Hiver

Ali Smith

3.84 AVERAGE

jamorley's review against another edition

4.0

---

Refreshing to read a novel that feels so energetically modern. The timeless problems of family, relationship, and loneliness, are woven poetically and inseparably into the fabric of modernity and of the lives we find ourselves living now, in the age of Google and Trump.

smellerbee93's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

krobart's review against another edition

4.0

---

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/review-1458-winter/

anikac's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

reneerianne's review against another edition

3.25

dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

I didn’t enjoy Winter as much as Autumn, and I think the main reason for that was that I kept trying to figure out the link between the two and failing. The atmosphere fit very well with the feeling of winter and the holidays but ultimately, the story left me longing for a bit more. Perhaps it was also due to the fact that a lot of the political subtleties went over my head. I loved Lux’ character and would have loved to learn a bit more about her!

nagyovka's review against another edition

5.0

lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

rienthril's review against another edition

4.0

---

Believing in the parallels between hardcore brexiteers and the maga gang allows this American (me) to find solace and commiseration in this British tale, the inhumanity of what we have just lived through in the last 5-6 years and continue to live through in exacerbated disorientation and chaos in 2021. I read this novel too late. The horrors of 2017, filtered through these wonderful characters’ reactions/passivity, feels distant and even nostalgic while now in the throes of COVID. But in 2017, there was an ongoing refugee crisis, a high rise apartment burning in London, an obstinate Brexit train careening toward “sovereignty”. This is in the background of Smith’s characters’ surreal Christmastime, amidst hallucinations, unwitting interventions, posturing, hiding and finally a faint glimmer of reconciliation, as if to say, after it all, perhaps we can hope.

catjohmar's review against another edition

3.0

---

could not tell you what this book was about

lvenning's review against another edition

4.0

challenging hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lou_isa's review against another edition

4.0

mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

this book feels a little obsessed with itself but tbh if my prose was Like That i would be obsessed with myself too