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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Es war August, der mir zeigte, wie wichtig Kleinigkeiten sind, der mich lehrte, Gesichter zu lesen, dem Nonverbalen so viele Informationen wie möglich abzutrotzen und noch dem nebensächlichsten stummen Gegenstand direkt vor meiner Nase Aussagen, Gespräche und Geschichten zu entlocken - all den Dingen, die mit uns sprechen ohne mit uns zu sprechen. Es war August, der mir beibrachte, dass ich nicht immer zuhören musste. Manchmal muss man einfach nur richtig hinsehen."
"Der Fehler, den diese ganzen alten englischen Schriftsteller und Kitschfilme machen, meint Slim, ist, uns einzureden, dass wahre Liebe leicht wäre, dass sie auf Sterne, Planeten oder Sonnenumläufe wartet. Wartet, bis das Schicksal zuschlägt. Und dass es wahre Liebe für jeden gibt, dass sie irgendwo schlummert, nur darauf wartet, geweckt zu werden, und jäh hervorbricht, wenn sich unser Lebensfaden mit dem eines anderen verheddert und die Blicke zweier Liebender sich treffen. Bumm.
Nach allem, was ich weiß, ist wahre Liebe verdammt hart. In wahren Liebesgeschichten steckt immer auch ein bisschen Tod. Und Schüttelfrost mitten inder Nacht und Kackflecken auf dem Bettlaken. Wahre Liebe stirbt, wenn sie aufs Schicksal warten muss. Wahre Liebe verlangt von den Liebenden, alles zu vergessen, was sein könnte, und sich mit dem zu begnügen, was ist."
"Der Fehler, den diese ganzen alten englischen Schriftsteller und Kitschfilme machen, meint Slim, ist, uns einzureden, dass wahre Liebe leicht wäre, dass sie auf Sterne, Planeten oder Sonnenumläufe wartet. Wartet, bis das Schicksal zuschlägt. Und dass es wahre Liebe für jeden gibt, dass sie irgendwo schlummert, nur darauf wartet, geweckt zu werden, und jäh hervorbricht, wenn sich unser Lebensfaden mit dem eines anderen verheddert und die Blicke zweier Liebender sich treffen. Bumm.
Nach allem, was ich weiß, ist wahre Liebe verdammt hart. In wahren Liebesgeschichten steckt immer auch ein bisschen Tod. Und Schüttelfrost mitten inder Nacht und Kackflecken auf dem Bettlaken. Wahre Liebe stirbt, wenn sie aufs Schicksal warten muss. Wahre Liebe verlangt von den Liebenden, alles zu vergessen, was sein könnte, und sich mit dem zu begnügen, was ist."
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Some unanswered plot points in this book but thoroughly readable.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am so conflicted about this book. I originally started it in 2020 and was so disappointed after reading a chapter. Everyone I have spoken to has said this book is incredible and addictive. I gave this book another go this year after my friend reassuring me to stick with it for the first 100-150 pages.
The writing is stunning and unlike anything I have ever read before. I love details and really appreciated Eli’s account and descriptions. I struggled with the book and how disjointed the story felt. The ending did not give me as much closure as I hoped and I left with questions, despite a recurring quote of “the answers to the questions” being in reach.
Overall it was a good read but I expected more from a book which was so hyped up.
The writing is stunning and unlike anything I have ever read before. I love details and really appreciated Eli’s account and descriptions. I struggled with the book and how disjointed the story felt. The ending did not give me as much closure as I hoped and I left with questions, despite a recurring quote of “the answers to the questions” being in reach.
Overall it was a good read but I expected more from a book which was so hyped up.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had trouble with this books pacing. At times there was intense actions scenes where I couldn’t put the book down, and then other times there was literally pages of internal monologue that had me nodding off. I think if the pace was a bit more consistent I would have enjoyed the reading experience a lot more.
I can definitely appreciate the good writing, it probably just isn’t the book for me and that’s okay.
As an Australian though, I loved it. I loved seeing references to Australian slang and brands and places ect and seeing my home country so explicitly represented
I can definitely appreciate the good writing, it probably just isn’t the book for me and that’s okay.
As an Australian though, I loved it. I loved seeing references to Australian slang and brands and places ect and seeing my home country so explicitly represented
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
For my full review of this book (and many others) on Bossy Bookworm, or to receive all of my Bossy reviews and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see Boy Swallows Universe.
There's a secret panel in the back of the wardrobe at Eli's house. Behind the panel is a tunnel, and at the end of the tunnel is a room. In the room is a red telephone, and the male voice on the line gives Eli advice. Who is the man? Can he be trusted? Is any of this even real?
Eli Bell is a young man in a tough spot. His father's out of the picture, his mother's in jail, his stepfather is gone, and his best friend and most solid source of advice is a convicted felon and legendary prison escapee, Slim. Eli's beloved older brother August is brilliant, but he never speaks. Things are complicated.
Eli lives in a bleak, distant suburb of Brisbane, Australia. He wants to grow up and become a journalist, but for now his main goal is trying not to attract too much attention or bring any trouble down on himself or his brother.
Tytus Broz, a powerful drug dealer (an association with whom left Eli's family in shambles), is successfully posing as an inspiring philanthropist. On the surface, he's an inventor who gives back to the community. In reality, he employs the foulest, most cruel minion to help him destroy anyone threatening his bad business, his profits, or his control. The injustice of this leaves Eli in a murderous rage.
Eli is a good young fellow who is growing more savvy, is increasingly able to see shades of gray, and who is singularly focused on the long game in order to save his family, preserve his dreams, and achieve justice. If he can just manage his mother's tendency to fall in with the wrong man; get the reporter Caitlyn Spies to realize that he exists; figure out what his vivid, recurring dreams and his brother August's premonitions might mean; and determine whose voice is on the other end of that damn red phone, things just might turn out all right. He can't face any other possibility.
In many ways, Boy Swallows Universe defies categorization. Its circumstances are often grim and should feel hopeless, the story's destruction and violence often feels unending, and Eli's luck continues to plunge. Yet Eli is an optimistic, practical adolescent boy who is bent on making his way, finding the courage to talk to the girl of his dreams, and sorting through the elements of magical realism Dalton places in his path.
The emotions and drives of the story feel real, but the tone is darkly playful. Some of Eli's grand plans (going to see his mom) were fully implausible, with questionable, fleeting benefits that felt sure to end badly, and some other plot points were similarly unlikely, but I was happily willing to suspend my disbelief.
Trent's debut novel sifts through everyday brutality, corruption, and the general neglect of people and possessions and reveals imperfect goodness and hope. Boy Swallows Universe has many larger-than-life characters, especially its villains. Despite the desperate behaviors of the adults in Eli's life (and the terrible consequences he suffers because of them), he emerges as a fantastic, oddball, singularly heroic character I loved spending time with.
I first mentioned this book (along with A Burning and The Office of Historical Corrections) in the Bossy Bookworm Greedy Reading List Three Books I'm Reading Now, 2/9/21 Edition.
There's a secret panel in the back of the wardrobe at Eli's house. Behind the panel is a tunnel, and at the end of the tunnel is a room. In the room is a red telephone, and the male voice on the line gives Eli advice. Who is the man? Can he be trusted? Is any of this even real?
Eli Bell is a young man in a tough spot. His father's out of the picture, his mother's in jail, his stepfather is gone, and his best friend and most solid source of advice is a convicted felon and legendary prison escapee, Slim. Eli's beloved older brother August is brilliant, but he never speaks. Things are complicated.
Eli lives in a bleak, distant suburb of Brisbane, Australia. He wants to grow up and become a journalist, but for now his main goal is trying not to attract too much attention or bring any trouble down on himself or his brother.
Tytus Broz, a powerful drug dealer (an association with whom left Eli's family in shambles), is successfully posing as an inspiring philanthropist. On the surface, he's an inventor who gives back to the community. In reality, he employs the foulest, most cruel minion to help him destroy anyone threatening his bad business, his profits, or his control. The injustice of this leaves Eli in a murderous rage.
Eli is a good young fellow who is growing more savvy, is increasingly able to see shades of gray, and who is singularly focused on the long game in order to save his family, preserve his dreams, and achieve justice. If he can just manage his mother's tendency to fall in with the wrong man; get the reporter Caitlyn Spies to realize that he exists; figure out what his vivid, recurring dreams and his brother August's premonitions might mean; and determine whose voice is on the other end of that damn red phone, things just might turn out all right. He can't face any other possibility.
In many ways, Boy Swallows Universe defies categorization. Its circumstances are often grim and should feel hopeless, the story's destruction and violence often feels unending, and Eli's luck continues to plunge. Yet Eli is an optimistic, practical adolescent boy who is bent on making his way, finding the courage to talk to the girl of his dreams, and sorting through the elements of magical realism Dalton places in his path.
The emotions and drives of the story feel real, but the tone is darkly playful. Some of Eli's grand plans (going to see his mom) were fully implausible, with questionable, fleeting benefits that felt sure to end badly, and some other plot points were similarly unlikely, but I was happily willing to suspend my disbelief.
Trent's debut novel sifts through everyday brutality, corruption, and the general neglect of people and possessions and reveals imperfect goodness and hope. Boy Swallows Universe has many larger-than-life characters, especially its villains. Despite the desperate behaviors of the adults in Eli's life (and the terrible consequences he suffers because of them), he emerges as a fantastic, oddball, singularly heroic character I loved spending time with.
I first mentioned this book (along with A Burning and The Office of Historical Corrections) in the Bossy Bookworm Greedy Reading List Three Books I'm Reading Now, 2/9/21 Edition.