You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
This book was... something. Even now I cannot tell whether I liked it or not (too simple an emotion, perhaps). One thing is for sure: this is a very well written book. It contains multitudes of thought, and perhaps it is because the world there is so fundamentally unlike my own that I cannot love it.
You must understand, I think, the world of Gretel and of the boats to even begin to comprehend the depth of this work. Fundamentally, with no other consideration, this book contains (what is most disgusting to me) the fact that the mother, Sarah, had sex with her own son (perhaps knowingly). What a horrible thing to even dream of occurring! Yet the way this book is written, if you fall into the water the way Daisy Johnson takes you, it is not inconceivable but only cruel on the part of Sarah.
I cannot get over her cruelty, really. Every time I think of this book there is something else. She abandoned her first child. She names her second child after the first. She (perhaps knowingly, or at least uncaringly) had sex with her first child. She watched her first child drown and did nothing. She abandoned her second child too. There is an intelligence to her cruelty that is obvious; Sarah is fundamentally a selfish woman and does not bother to attempt otherwise.
One thing I did find a little disappointing (the rest was not disappointing, I just cannot tell if I liked it) was the death of the Bonak. It happened in just a few sentences really - and how can a few sentences adequately sum up ten or more years of life? I know, looking deeper, that Sarah perhaps is the Bonak—but then what of the one she killed? There needed, I think, to be more clarification. That’s my only true complaint. The rest is like life.
You must understand, I think, the world of Gretel and of the boats to even begin to comprehend the depth of this work. Fundamentally, with no other consideration, this book contains (what is most disgusting to me) the fact that the mother, Sarah, had sex with her own son (perhaps knowingly). What a horrible thing to even dream of occurring! Yet the way this book is written, if you fall into the water the way Daisy Johnson takes you, it is not inconceivable but only cruel on the part of Sarah.
I cannot get over her cruelty, really. Every time I think of this book there is something else. She abandoned her first child. She names her second child after the first. She (perhaps knowingly, or at least uncaringly) had sex with her first child. She watched her first child drown and did nothing. She abandoned her second child too. There is an intelligence to her cruelty that is obvious; Sarah is fundamentally a selfish woman and does not bother to attempt otherwise.
One thing I did find a little disappointing (the rest was not disappointing, I just cannot tell if I liked it) was the death of the Bonak. It happened in just a few sentences really - and how can a few sentences adequately sum up ten or more years of life? I know, looking deeper, that Sarah perhaps is the Bonak—but then what of the one she killed? There needed, I think, to be more clarification. That’s my only true complaint. The rest is like life.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A compellingly told story with a dark twist which, towards the end, all slightly crumbles to bits. Still a good read.
This book is bizarre - sometimes in good ways and sometimes in not good ways. The relationship between Gretel and Sarah was the most interesting to me, perhaps because it's the most identifiable and relatable?
The way the story plays with gender is interesting to a point -- though I'm not entirely sure Johnson delves deeply enough into notions of gender beyond what was necessary for the plot to make sense (you'll understand this vague comment when you get to the end, though you'll likely to figure out the prophecy much sooner).
Many times I thought about putting this book down. Ultimately I didn't because I found Gretel's character to be, ultimately, redeeming.
The way the story plays with gender is interesting to a point -- though I'm not entirely sure Johnson delves deeply enough into notions of gender beyond what was necessary for the plot to make sense (you'll understand this vague comment when you get to the end, though you'll likely to figure out the prophecy much sooner).
Many times I thought about putting this book down. Ultimately I didn't because I found Gretel's character to be, ultimately, redeeming.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
tense
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A linguistically ambitious gothic adventure with bright and heady imagery that unfortunately misses the mark. Johnson attempts to explore too much at once and as a result, everything becomes a little lost within itself and is never fully realised.