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Новая книга в цикле “Сезонов” Али Смит свое название полностью оправдывает: это неспешная проза, которая читается как рождественский гимн. И герои, под стать классическим персонажам Диккенса, сталкиваются с полным переворотом своих представлений о жизни под Рождество, только если корень злонравия скряги Скруджа лежал в его травмах детства, то герои Али Смит обнаруживают себя в мире, где у любой этической или политической позиции потерялось шаткое основание; все умерло, точнее, все занесло снегом, и это все ожидает, как сможет пробудиться. А пока призраки воспоминаний носят героев то в прошлое, где политические активисты с лозунгами ядерного разоружения приковывают себя наручниками к забору военной базы и практикуют свободную любовь в жалких, но уютных сквотах; то в будущее, когда только эсэмэски напоминают о судьбоносной встрече в рождественский сочельник, которая, — как и любая встреча в сочельник — казалась совершенно случайной.
“Зима — это упражнение для запоминания того, как успокоиться, а потом снова мягко вернуться к жизни”, — размышляет один из героем Али Смит. Вот и “Зима” — способ поставить жизнь на паузу и провести вечер с хорошей книгой, никуда не торопясь.
“Зима — это упражнение для запоминания того, как успокоиться, а потом снова мягко вернуться к жизни”, — размышляет один из героем Али Смит. Вот и “Зима” — способ поставить жизнь на паузу и провести вечер с хорошей книгой, никуда не торопясь.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It’s rare to read something so original that it could never be done by anyone else. I found myself saying “wow” aloud as I read because each sentence carried such depth and importance. It is strange that a book as bleak and negative about the future as this could be imbued with just as much appreciation for humanity. This story was one of a kind.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
In her seasonal quartet, of which this is the second volume, Ali Smith is providing us with a snapshot of our time - specifically early 21st century Britain. In Winter, there are inter-generational (Art and Sophia) as well as sibling (Sophia and Iris) conflicts, underlining the differing preoccupations of the characters. Smith also takes advantage of the fact that Iris and Sophia are beyond retirement age to explore previous events, such as the Greenham Common anti-nuclear protests, and draw links with current preoccupations with climate change. Sophia's encounters with the young optician and the bank manager are hilarious but sadly very realistic. Other items such as the child's head which accompanies Sophia in the early part of the book appear to be pure fantasy, although real enough for Sophia herself. The mix gives one a strange sensation of maybe being somewhere familiar and then maybe not. The reader is kept on their toes with the switches of perspectives from Sophia, to Art, to Iris and Lux. Enough to ensure one looks forward to the next volume of the quartet.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The second in Smith's seasons set of books. I think there is a lot more in these books than what I am picking up. In this one the artist is Hepworth, in Autumn is was Boty, the story is focussed on Art, the son of Sophie, he doesn't really know who he is. He has this blog about nature, but he doesn't seem to really be connected with nature. His girlfriend eventually gets sick of him, so he takes a stranger to his mother's place to pretend to be his girlfriend. His mother seems in a bad way though, no food in the house, and imagining a floating head that follows her around. The mother was focussed on making money when she was younger and didn't really spend much time with Art. The pretend stranger, who is an immigrant, makes sure the mother is cared for, and makes Art realise there is more to life. I think if you knew a lot about Hepworth, you would get more out of the book, but it is still enjoyable anyway. It is a perfect slice of life in the UK now, with all the mindless bureaucracy and rule-following, but also the weird hobby-ists. There is a connection between the characters in Autumn and Winter that I didn't pick up at the time.
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Filled with witty language and references to Dickens and Shakespeare, Ali Smith’s Winter is a tale about Art going to his mother’s for Christmas.