Scan barcode
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
Autumn is the 3rd book that I've read by Ali Smith. Ali Smith novels are not your typical novels. The narrative is not linear and the prose is lyrical. She is not for everyone.
Autumn is the first book is Smith's Seasons quartet. This book is broken into 3 parts meant on the surface to represent September, October, and November. Each part features a chapter musing on the month in question. The rest of the story centers around 2 characters: Daniel Gluck, a 101 man who is in a care center and Elisabeth Demand, a woman in her early 30s who teaches classes at a college. The novel jumps back and forth in time to when Elisabeth was a child and befriended (much to her mother's chagrin) the old man (Daniel) next door. Daniel and Elisabeth would exchange strange stories and musings.
The novel is in part a look at the nature of time and also makes some statements about Brexit. I also enjoyed the deep friendship between Daniel and Elisabeth.
Autumn is the first book is Smith's Seasons quartet. This book is broken into 3 parts meant on the surface to represent September, October, and November. Each part features a chapter musing on the month in question. The rest of the story centers around 2 characters: Daniel Gluck, a 101 man who is in a care center and Elisabeth Demand, a woman in her early 30s who teaches classes at a college. The novel jumps back and forth in time to when Elisabeth was a child and befriended (much to her mother's chagrin) the old man (Daniel) next door. Daniel and Elisabeth would exchange strange stories and musings.
The novel is in part a look at the nature of time and also makes some statements about Brexit. I also enjoyed the deep friendship between Daniel and Elisabeth.
ivyleiff's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kyouwa_today's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Lots of time jumps here between the two main characters. Beautiful prose that reads like poetry. Wonderful story of a life as it happens.
gretatimaite's review
Oh, Ali! the way you played with time and love has overwhelmed me.
gkamens's review
challenging
slow-paced
Was supposed to read for a class about Britain post WWII, too dumb to understand its significance on my own
jenny_hedberg's review
3.0
This is a very poetic book. In some ways it feels like a stream of consciousness that has been styled into poetry. While it was beautiful to read, it also slowed down the pace. It made me read more in the moment instead of looking to see what was going to happen next. I think this is the true strength of Smith's writing in this novel - her ability to craft a moment and make the reader explore that moment. Wordplay shifts the meaning of the moment and creates links between different moments so that the transition between events feels more conceptual than time-based.
I sometimes appreciated these things just for the experience of reading but I also grew impatient. I like stories more than I like language and in Autumn it was hard to see the forest for all the trees, they just demanded so much individual attention.
I sometimes appreciated these things just for the experience of reading but I also grew impatient. I like stories more than I like language and in Autumn it was hard to see the forest for all the trees, they just demanded so much individual attention.
an0987's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The writing style if both playful and poetic. I enjoyed reading this meditative and beautiful story. I’m certain that I will return to it in the years to come
msilkwolfe's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful and brilliant. Quite literary and gives you lots to think about. I could imagine writing a paper on this one.
emilykitty1234's review
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5