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gillianebersole's review
funny
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
rliu793's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
ariellepb91's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mary_beth's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
zabcia's review against another edition
4.0
89%
"I constantly need to translate the world around me to myself, and then myself back to the world again, like speaking two completely different languages simultaneously"
This book fascinated me, because I found it very difficult to read; it was too relatable, and that made me uncomfortable.
I found Cassandra to be a vaguely dislikeable character, but only because she has the same traits that I don't like in myself. I don't act on things like she does, but I recognizes the battles I fight in my own head on a daily basis the same way she describes them. I'm not autistic (I don't think), but I have read that ADHD has some characteristic similarities, and this book helped me make some connections in the memory of my past that I never understood before and was always frustrated by, so there was an element of healing toward the end for me.
My only qualm:
"Where does a story start? It's a lie, the first page of a book, because it masquerades as a beginning. A real beginning - the opening of something - when what you're being offers is an arbitrary line in the sand. This story starts here. Pick a random event. Ignore whatever came before it or catch up later. Pretend the world stops when the book closes, or that resolution isn't simply another random moment on a curated timeline."
"I'd read the entire situation wrong and gave up. Except maybe that was the start of our failure to connect: mem failing to take the initiative. Me, being too cautious, lacking spontaneity or impulisivity. Me, reading things wrong and processing the world fifty times too slow. Maybe love prefers to be eaten warm, like biscuits out of the oven."
"I always wait with my whole body. It's a three-dimensional physical experience: me, suspended in time as if hanging from space by my knicker elastic. Everything warps - gets stretched out and transparent like cling film pulled tight - until I start to feel time filling every organ."
"Everything is suddenly starting to feel saturate: pink flowers, red front door, green weeds, blue sky, I'm steeped in color like a tea bag and they run into each other and hurt my eyes and the volume turns up, sears my skin, prickles my spine"
"Kissing is so weird: we're literally testing each other out to see if there's a fit, trying on genes as if they're jeans."
"just like my other mythological namesake, it's starting to feel like every day I weave a complex tapestry, and every night - terrified of the consequences, of what will happen when I'm done - I simply unpick it again. And nothing gets made at all."
"That's the thing I've never really understood about emotions,. We're given unhelpful words for them - sad, happy, angry, scared, disgusted - but they're not accurate and there never seems to be anywhere near enough of them. How could there be? Emotions aren't binary or finite: they change, shift, run into each other like colored water. They're layered, three-dimensional and twisted; they don't arrive in order, one by one, labeled neatly. They lie on top of each other, twisting like kaleidoscopes, like prims, like spinning bird feathers lit with their own iridescence."
"I am mostly on my own. I am so permanently alone that I can feel it in my bones, in my eyeballs, in the roots of my hair. I can feel loneliness like a physical presence, as if someone heavy is sitting on my chest."
"I constantly need to translate the world around me to myself, and then myself back to the world again, like speaking two completely different languages simultaneously"
This book fascinated me, because I found it very difficult to read; it was too relatable, and that made me uncomfortable.
I found Cassandra to be a vaguely dislikeable character, but only because she has the same traits that I don't like in myself. I don't act on things like she does, but I recognizes the battles I fight in my own head on a daily basis the same way she describes them. I'm not autistic (I don't think), but I have read that ADHD has some characteristic similarities, and this book helped me make some connections in the memory of my past that I never understood before and was always frustrated by, so there was an element of healing toward the end for me.
My only qualm:
Spoiler
I don't think the last time jump all the way back to the beginning was really necessary."Where does a story start? It's a lie, the first page of a book, because it masquerades as a beginning. A real beginning - the opening of something - when what you're being offers is an arbitrary line in the sand. This story starts here. Pick a random event. Ignore whatever came before it or catch up later. Pretend the world stops when the book closes, or that resolution isn't simply another random moment on a curated timeline."
"I'd read the entire situation wrong and gave up. Except maybe that was the start of our failure to connect: mem failing to take the initiative. Me, being too cautious, lacking spontaneity or impulisivity. Me, reading things wrong and processing the world fifty times too slow. Maybe love prefers to be eaten warm, like biscuits out of the oven."
"I always wait with my whole body. It's a three-dimensional physical experience: me, suspended in time as if hanging from space by my knicker elastic. Everything warps - gets stretched out and transparent like cling film pulled tight - until I start to feel time filling every organ."
"Everything is suddenly starting to feel saturate: pink flowers, red front door, green weeds, blue sky, I'm steeped in color like a tea bag and they run into each other and hurt my eyes and the volume turns up, sears my skin, prickles my spine"
"Kissing is so weird: we're literally testing each other out to see if there's a fit, trying on genes as if they're jeans."
"just like my other mythological namesake, it's starting to feel like every day I weave a complex tapestry, and every night - terrified of the consequences, of what will happen when I'm done - I simply unpick it again. And nothing gets made at all."
"That's the thing I've never really understood about emotions,. We're given unhelpful words for them - sad, happy, angry, scared, disgusted - but they're not accurate and there never seems to be anywhere near enough of them. How could there be? Emotions aren't binary or finite: they change, shift, run into each other like colored water. They're layered, three-dimensional and twisted; they don't arrive in order, one by one, labeled neatly. They lie on top of each other, twisting like kaleidoscopes, like prims, like spinning bird feathers lit with their own iridescence."
"I am mostly on my own. I am so permanently alone that I can feel it in my bones, in my eyeballs, in the roots of my hair. I can feel loneliness like a physical presence, as if someone heavy is sitting on my chest."
horrorgirlsophie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Favourite read of the year so far!
jamicuns01's review against another edition
5.0
I love Holly Smale for letting us into her world. Representation matters and Holly does a beautiful job of it. There is a saying that goes, “when you met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person.” So there is no way Holly Smale can represent all autistic people (they are not a monolith) but through her loosely autobiographical novel she does a brilliant job of showing us what the world feels like through her eyes and it’s exhausting. It shouldn’t be this way. We need to educate ourselves so that we can be helpers and not obstacle and this book is a brilliant start. I’m so proud of Cassandra and would love a sequel. I’d love to see what she does with her life.
nightstand_reads's review
3.0
If you could travel through time and go to any year (or anywhere), where would you go?
I love time travel and time loop stories because because of this very question.
'Cassandra in Reverse' features a protagonist who discovers she can rewind time, a process that sheds light on neurodivergence and her struggle to fit in.
I really enjoyed this book; it was a great escape into magic, time travel, and the vulnerability of the human spirit.
Also, as a delightful added bonus; there's a tie to Greek mythology that Cassandra uses to relate to the world.
75% of the way through there is an interesting twist that is worth the wait.
Quote from the book I loved: "There are infinite things you can do with time. You can save it, spend it, stitch it, Kill it. You can beat it, steal it and watch it fly. You can do time and set it; you can waste it and keep it; it can be good or bad, on your side or against you. You can have a whale of it; be in the nick of it or behind it; you can have it on your hands."
I love time travel and time loop stories because because of this very question.
'Cassandra in Reverse' features a protagonist who discovers she can rewind time, a process that sheds light on neurodivergence and her struggle to fit in.
I really enjoyed this book; it was a great escape into magic, time travel, and the vulnerability of the human spirit.
Also, as a delightful added bonus; there's a tie to Greek mythology that Cassandra uses to relate to the world.
75% of the way through there is an interesting twist that is worth the wait.
Quote from the book I loved: "There are infinite things you can do with time. You can save it, spend it, stitch it, Kill it. You can beat it, steal it and watch it fly. You can do time and set it; you can waste it and keep it; it can be good or bad, on your side or against you. You can have a whale of it; be in the nick of it or behind it; you can have it on your hands."
takara_reads's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Holly Smale's "Cassandra in Reverse" is a captivating read that blends contemporary fiction with elements of Greek mythology. The protagonist, Cassandra, navigates life's challenges with an intriguing twist: she can turn back time. While this concept sets the stage for a unique narrative, I found myself skimming through some of the dense Greek mythology sections. These parts, though integral to the plot, sometimes felt a bit heavy.
However, the ending more than makes up for any earlier pacing issues. Smale brilliantly ties together the story's themes, culminating in a powerful conclusion. The narrative underscores that true love transcends traditional romantic relationships, highlighting the importance of self-love and the bonds we form with friends and family. "Cassandra in Reverse" ultimately offers a refreshing take on love and destiny, making it a memorable read.
sophiascoppettone's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5