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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia
challenging
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There were fantastic elements at play here--the intriguing premise, the striking settings (old movie house, increasingly frozen landscape), and the quirky and largely believable cast of characters. The wonderfully matter-of-fact and tender subplot of the complications of changing gender identity within a tiny community felt fully realized. Other elements didn't seem to really "hit." The global reaches and severity (and speed) of global warming effects, the *far* too extensive discussion of several characters' "shocking" love triangle (square?), a complicated family tree--after enormous buildups, these ultimately felt like they simply drifted into the background.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
This book was super beautiful - the man who married the sky is a pretty good example of just how beautiful. The end did throw me a bit but I'm glad I sat on it because life is fucked and often hope is always lost and that is shown in this ending.
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
I wish I could give this book 6 stars. Or even 10. Completely enamored.
I won an Arc of this book through a giveaway on Librarything.
What a book! I really liked this one. It can get a little muddled in the middle, and at points I felt like I was slogging through the snow with them. The narratives seemed to meander. On the one hand, that meant the story wasn't predictable. It was life, I was going day by day with them, walking down the street around the bend in the most delightful way. But on the other hand, it means there are points when your mind wants to put the book down and go for a walk, not continue diving deeper. There were several plot lines that I couldn't connect in the end. They made for interest but not for relevance. But the negatives are vastly outweighed by the description and author's way of pulling you into the personal struggles of the characters.
These characters are not "normal." They are not nuclear family leave it to beaver types. They are alternative, nonconforming fucked up humans who try to find joy and continue living a normal life in a scary time. They are great.
What a book! I really liked this one. It can get a little muddled in the middle, and at points I felt like I was slogging through the snow with them. The narratives seemed to meander. On the one hand, that meant the story wasn't predictable. It was life, I was going day by day with them, walking down the street around the bend in the most delightful way. But on the other hand, it means there are points when your mind wants to put the book down and go for a walk, not continue diving deeper. There were several plot lines that I couldn't connect in the end. They made for interest but not for relevance. But the negatives are vastly outweighed by the description and author's way of pulling you into the personal struggles of the characters.
These characters are not "normal." They are not nuclear family leave it to beaver types. They are alternative, nonconforming fucked up humans who try to find joy and continue living a normal life in a scary time. They are great.
I really, really wanted to like this book, but I feel like it was just overwhelmed by its own quirkiness. Dylan's story - raised by his mother and grandmother in an old movie theater, only to move into an old trailer with their ashes in tow after the theater is foreclosed - strangely did not resonate with me at all. Stella, the transgender teenager, was the only one who interested me, but the narrative didn't seem like it knew whether it wanted to focus on her or the impending apocalypse.
The writing is gorgeous, and VERY character-driven, which is normally a match made in literary heaven for me. I'm not sure why I didn't click with this book, but I really wish that I did
The writing is gorgeous, and VERY character-driven, which is normally a match made in literary heaven for me. I'm not sure why I didn't click with this book, but I really wish that I did
A novel beginning in November 2020 at the beginning of what could potentially be a new ice age. It’s from two perspectives: Dylan a man who has lost his grandmother, mother, and the theatre he grew up in all within the past six months. And Stella a transgender teenage girl.
Dylan’s mother leaves him a caravan in a caravan park in Scotland and when his theatre gets taken from him by creditors he moves there. Next door to him lives Stella and her mom.
This story is about neighbours trying to navigate life in a time when the world may be ending. It’s also about growing up and discovering family history.
Review:
I really liked this book! It felt odd to read it right now because of the events of this world but it somehow didn’t make me feel more anxious. It took me away to the beautiful snowy Scottish caravan park near the mountains. Also I just really liked how beautiful the writing. I loved how quirky the characters were, and I enjoyed reading about a transgendered child, which is something I don’t get to read about often.
I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I also wanted to add, I really recommended it if you enjoyed Station Eleven as it has similar vibes.