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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
slow-paced
Universality by Natasha Brown
☑️ #gifted for review by @knopfca and @penguinrandomca
It’s a little meh from me, tbh. I saw some rave reviews from book friends and went into this one with high expectations but despite there being some interesting ideas in play about truth, journalistic integrity, the fall of classic media, greed and capitalism, and the status of political correctness and its backlash in Britain (also seen here) all stuffed into 150ish pages, I just wasn’t that engaged.
The characters are all intensely unlikeable which I don’t mind at all, but I also didn’t really feel that compelled by them or any of their actions. Not a whole lot happens in this book beyond the article describing the incident and then talk of its virality and fallout so you’re left to deduce what must be happening behind the scenes. Which is interesting, but ultimately a little deflating.
I think there are big ideas here and packed into such a short quick read, definitely worth reading in case you end up loving it like so many others have. I can see why this is on the #bookerprize list.
Having worked for a newspaper and as a freelance journalist maybe it hit just a little too depressingly bleak & close to home for me.
☑️ #gifted for review by @knopfca and @penguinrandomca
It’s a little meh from me, tbh. I saw some rave reviews from book friends and went into this one with high expectations but despite there being some interesting ideas in play about truth, journalistic integrity, the fall of classic media, greed and capitalism, and the status of political correctness and its backlash in Britain (also seen here) all stuffed into 150ish pages, I just wasn’t that engaged.
The characters are all intensely unlikeable which I don’t mind at all, but I also didn’t really feel that compelled by them or any of their actions. Not a whole lot happens in this book beyond the article describing the incident and then talk of its virality and fallout so you’re left to deduce what must be happening behind the scenes. Which is interesting, but ultimately a little deflating.
I think there are big ideas here and packed into such a short quick read, definitely worth reading in case you end up loving it like so many others have. I can see why this is on the #bookerprize list.
Having worked for a newspaper and as a freelance journalist maybe it hit just a little too depressingly bleak & close to home for me.
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-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
Booker read #1
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
immediately after finishing this book, i knew i would benefit from a slower re-read.
‘assembly’ was one of my favourite reads a few years back, so i was beyond excited to pick this up. natasha brown has written another novel centred around British social commentary, this time focused on language, media, and our consumption of these stories, dissecting our personal retellings and claims to truth and victimhood.
the biggest difference between this novel and ‘assembly’ for me is that assembly’s social critique of the British class system was a quiet undercurrent, whereas in ‘universality’, the commentary felt too on the nose and in your face.
i liked this, but unfortunately didn’t love it. it was addicting to read, and i raced through it, so i would like to revisit it at some point.
‘assembly’ was one of my favourite reads a few years back, so i was beyond excited to pick this up. natasha brown has written another novel centred around British social commentary, this time focused on language, media, and our consumption of these stories, dissecting our personal retellings and claims to truth and victimhood.
the biggest difference between this novel and ‘assembly’ for me is that assembly’s social critique of the British class system was a quiet undercurrent, whereas in ‘universality’, the commentary felt too on the nose and in your face.
i liked this, but unfortunately didn’t love it. it was addicting to read, and i raced through it, so i would like to revisit it at some point.
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes