1.89k reviews for:

Hiver

Ali Smith

3.84 AVERAGE

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

WINTER

I am now halfway through my reread of Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet after reading Winter this January.

Similarly to Autumn, I was struck by the word play in Winter. Her incredibly clever writing is part of what draws me back to these books year after year.

Winter also picks up where Autumn left off in terms of cultural commentary, this time through the lens of a politically, and perhaps morally, divided family gathering for the holidays. Smith deftly covers topics from war to capitalism and immigration, both intimately within the family and with a broader, timeless perspective.

Keep an eye out for my Spring read as the seasons change!
reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I’ve read three now and shan’t bother with Summer. I find her style clever, full of ideas but bitty. I like a book with a stronger narrative
challenging emotional hopeful inspiring slow-paced

3.5

So good, better than the first one! Should have cut the last two pages, read the book to find out if you agree! Post your answer in the comments below! Subscribe!
hopeful slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

trying hard

Beautiful, striking and occasionally odd. Memorable, wonderful, honest and angry. Relentlessly political, and written in a language that sings. I cannot wait to read the next part of this quartet.

3.5 really (I'm a .5 gal now)

Ali Smith really captures that slice in time a few years when the UK was a hotbed of political polarisation, when COVID wasn't the only issue on everyone's lips, and I love it