Reviews

Matrix by Lauren Groff

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pineconek's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I picked this up on a whim and had exactly zero idea what it was about. Turned out to be a book about a powerful female-separatist lesbian nun set in the dark ages in England, which was a wild concept from start to finish.

I can't figured out how I feel about this book. The narrative style is somewhat strange - theres major time skips that gloss over things that likely should have been explained more, and there is remarkably little dialogue. The reader is sometimes forcibly distanced from the character's inner worlds, but at other times is allowed to peak closely at intimate and gruesome details. And gruesome they are - this book is a tapestry of famine, death, disease, isolation, self flagellation, and graphic births (in the middle ages, I need to reiterate).

Recommended if you are looking to feel confusing feelings and are ready to be held at arm's length when reading about nuns of old. I think this is a 3.5 read, rounded down to 3 on GR, but I honestly have no idea. Reading this was weird, it made me feel weird, and I think that means that it's art.

thefantasticalworldofsara's review against another edition

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4.0

The way this book was pitched to me (or the way I remember it) was lesbian nuns and I mean yes this book is about an abbey in the 1200s in England where there are indeed lesbian nuns. But, primarily it's a book about power, womanhood and community. When you're viewed as the lesser sex what clever ways do you have to come up with to hold power and to build yourself a legacy? The main character Marie was infinitely more clever than I could ever hope to be.

It is not a particularly plot driven novel but even still I felt compelled by the story because of the characters, I wanted to know how far Marie could go.

This won't be a book for everyone but I certainly really liked it! If you're looking for historical fiction set not in a World War but still has the same tones of incredible sadness and hopefulness I recommend this one.

ps. Matrix pairs so well with another book I read this year, She Who Became the Sun which is a book that also talks about power and gender. Is this going to be a new niche reading love of mine? Maybe!

pps. Thank GOD I don't live in the 13th century. Shit SUCKED back then.

#IndigoEmployee