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ebraam's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not really sure how to feel about this book. I think I liked it, I think that's the point.
Very disorienting, especially the audiobook as it's written/ spoken like poetry in most parts with quick and mostly monotone reading.
Very disorienting, especially the audiobook as it's written/ spoken like poetry in most parts with quick and mostly monotone reading.
kgmay25's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emianner's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
khornstein1's review
2.0
Didn't love this one, but it left me remembering one of the greatest novels of all time: Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man"
katykelly's review
4.0
A new Metamorphosis - strange structure/narrative but relevant.
This started very much like Gregor Samsa's classic story, in my head at least. Which is not a just comparison. Gregor awakens to find himself turned into an insect. A creature un-humanlike in its appearance, one that would be shunned and vilified, feared and punished. Anders awakens to find his white skin has turned to brown.
And there's the heart of it really. Because that's very similar to how Anders feels about himself, and how he feels others are now going to see him. Because of his skin colour.
It's a troublesome book to put your finger on. This is Anders' story yes, but it's not told from his point of view. The author gives us his character's thoughts, but it's wider than this - his sometime lover Oona, her bigoted (in a very contemporary right-wing way) mother, their perceptions about this growing phenomenon are key to how the reader sees Anders' new world.
For it's spreading. And shockingly, so is violence and lawlessness. Anders is no longer recognised by those he knows. How will his dying father feel when presented with this 'new' son?
Is this an allegory? Does it expose (not always) hidden prejudices and resentments? The cause of this change is not explored, though there is one mention of a cure being touted, it doesn't veer towards religion or politics, it is more the societal effect and that on a personal level of how people deal with other people when confronted with this sudden transformation.
Should it make a difference? It is interesting to watch how Anders and Oona's burgeoning relationship alters through the story, in front of society's background of hate, fear and suspicion.
It's a disturbing read, as every reader will project themselves into these characters and this situation and wonder how it would be were this real. How would 'our' society react? Our families? Our selves? And what point is the writer trying to make... hard for me to put an exact mark on it, but it's a book I won't be forgetting.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.
This started very much like Gregor Samsa's classic story, in my head at least. Which is not a just comparison. Gregor awakens to find himself turned into an insect. A creature un-humanlike in its appearance, one that would be shunned and vilified, feared and punished. Anders awakens to find his white skin has turned to brown.
And there's the heart of it really. Because that's very similar to how Anders feels about himself, and how he feels others are now going to see him. Because of his skin colour.
It's a troublesome book to put your finger on. This is Anders' story yes, but it's not told from his point of view. The author gives us his character's thoughts, but it's wider than this - his sometime lover Oona, her bigoted (in a very contemporary right-wing way) mother, their perceptions about this growing phenomenon are key to how the reader sees Anders' new world.
For it's spreading. And shockingly, so is violence and lawlessness. Anders is no longer recognised by those he knows. How will his dying father feel when presented with this 'new' son?
Is this an allegory? Does it expose (not always) hidden prejudices and resentments? The cause of this change is not explored, though there is one mention of a cure being touted, it doesn't veer towards religion or politics, it is more the societal effect and that on a personal level of how people deal with other people when confronted with this sudden transformation.
Should it make a difference? It is interesting to watch how Anders and Oona's burgeoning relationship alters through the story, in front of society's background of hate, fear and suspicion.
It's a disturbing read, as every reader will project themselves into these characters and this situation and wonder how it would be were this real. How would 'our' society react? Our families? Our selves? And what point is the writer trying to make... hard for me to put an exact mark on it, but it's a book I won't be forgetting.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.
akmickler16's review against another edition
3.0
While I loved "Exit West" and "The Reluctant Fundamentalist," this one didn't have the same impact for me. The premise was interesting, but I think it fell short of it's goal. The writing style was creative and more like an ongoing monologue, but I found it really hard to follow and was constantly re-reading passages. The book follows characters through one phase of their lives for the majority of the plot, then really speeds up at the end. Overall, not my favorite from MH, but will continue to be a fan of this author.
sakisreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I had heard some hype around this book, so I knew I had to try it 😳
It was such an interesting book and I found it so easy to read. Racialised people cannot change race, but the cultural and political aspects were so realistic that I found myself believing it was something that could happen 🥲
I really did like the ending, where Anders and Oona had their child and things were very hopeful 🥹 It made me feel content!
4 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨ Content warnings included below!
It was such an interesting book and I found it so easy to read. Racialised people cannot change race, but the cultural and political aspects were so realistic that I found myself believing it was something that could happen 🥲
4 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨ Content warnings included below!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, and Racism
harpyd's review
medium-paced
2.5
I liked this book, definitely an interesting concept. Not sure I fully understand what Hamid was trying to do, but a thought provoking read nonetheless. I did however really hate the writing style. It was just run on sentence after run on sentence, and felt like it was trying to be a stream of consciousness but from an omniscient third person perspective? I was just craving a full stop, I kept scanning down the page for one dying for a break in the long-winded meandering sentences. Kept getting lost in the sentences (maybe that was the point) and I never fully adjusted to the style I think. I also thought that the dialogue writing style kept changing- sometimes quotation marks, sometimes not, which I found a little confusing. Despite the ending feeling a little rushed, I did end up liking where the story went and the concepts it made me think about.
lottie1803's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0