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indoorswoman's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mearsy008's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
justinkhchen's review against another edition
4.75
One of the most perplexing, hypnotic story I've read in quite a while, its subtitle, A Sequence of Unease, perfectly captures the overall experience, as we follow a core group of characters, whose daily life is interrupted by an unidentified collective (only referred to as 'they'). Not suitable for readers who need answers, They is intentionally hazy on details, everything is conveyed piecemeal as the narrative progresses. The absence of clarity also opens up room for interpretation—as one can easily read the story in a literal sense (is this an alien invasion? Or some form of extreme political reform?), or something more metaphorical (the stripping of individuality through the need for efficiency). It being a novella is also perfect, as anything longer would probably pivot the vagueness from a novelty to frustration.
This is definitely a gem, happy to see it being re-released (thus got my attention during a bookstore browse), and would love to re-read it in the future!
This is definitely a gem, happy to see it being re-released (thus got my attention during a bookstore browse), and would love to re-read it in the future!
mayormccheese's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
notebooksandlaptops's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
becjc's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lddlb's review
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5