Reviews

Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au

phoenix2's review

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3.0

Cold Enough for Snow is a novella about a trip that a mother and a daughter take together to Japan. That trip prompts a lot of memories and thoughts to resurface. The book has this cold, wintery atmosphere to it, with simple writing but full of emotion nevertheless, and a nice pace when it came to the main narrator's thoughts.

And yet, the ending as well as the whole description of the trip were all partial and needed a bit more space and a bit more details. Maybe the relationship between the daughter and the mother should have more depth into it, and that too felt partial and read between the lines.

Still, the book is easy to read and a beautiful short piece of a slice of life.

annemichellec's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

juliapac's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

frasergreen's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-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

3.0

alecpulver's review against another edition

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3.5

Super reflective and tender. Prose was a little too descriptive for my liking at times. Overall a nice little read. 

sophiem14's review against another edition

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5.0

truly flawless piece of writing. so beautiful and warm, I can tell it’ll stay with me for a while.

mrmokek's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

another reviewer described this book as hypnotic and i think that is the perfect word - i haven't disappeared into a book like that since i was in my early teens

first of all, i love the writing style. as someone who typically dislikes overly descriptive writing because of how flowery it gets, au's approach is refreshing and also just gorgeous??

secondly, i cannot describe exactly what this book is about (partially because i finished it like 35 min ago and i'm still reeling), but that feels very appropriate. au is communicating Something very clearly, and i know what it is, but i don't know how to word it concisely (and to be honest i don't think she does either, probs why it took an 80 page book)

don't really know where to put this thought but I also love that it indulges in academic wank and deep reflections on things while simultaneously being like what the fuck you are massively overthinking this this is not about you - it's a nice duality and i like that both of those things sit uncomfortably together

would strongly recommend this book to anyone with immigrant parents, people who intellectualise their feelings, most english students, anyone who has experienced gifted kid syndrome, unreliable narrator enjoyers, and people who monologue/have extended conversations with imaginary audiences in their own heads

charlielovesbooks's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

4.0

readsbychi's review against another edition

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mommy issues

lunacarmona's review against another edition

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5