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rannveig's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
"Luxury-stained, the pair of us."
"And none to start with."
"And none of it ours."
This was skirting close to personal history for the both of us. None to start with. None of it ours. An admission of having a history and not having just materialised, fully formed.
girlnouns's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
fullybooked22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.25
I wouldn't have finished this book if it hadn't been a course book, I'm glad I did but I really was dragging myself through the first quarter/half.
The first "chapter" is 100 pages long which I found quite demotivating (I'm always one for short chapters tbh), later in the book things are broken up a little more frequently which helped this pacing
the sections from other "books" are fun and I found enjoyable
There is a lot of confusion throughout this book, you're not told much about the main characters, the residency that Mathilde finds herself on is not explained for a frustratingly long time, in order to convey HER confusion with Thought Art the reader is simultaneously confused which while effective was not encouraging as a reading experience.
From the point where Erskine-Lily is introduced (about 3/4 of the way through) I found myself enjoying everything much more, and I read the final 100 or so pages in one sitting very comfortably but at the start I couldn't read 5 pages without fidgeting and wanting to move onto something else
Overall, I wouldn't really recommend this book unless you had intentions to discuss wider themes that it covers (e.g. what is left out of historical canon/archives, exploration of people of colour through history, queerness) in which case I think it is very interesting but without these avenues for focus I think I would have found myself too overwhelmed to take anything of value in
The first "chapter" is 100 pages long which I found quite demotivating (I'm always one for short chapters tbh), later in the book things are broken up a little more frequently which helped this pacing
the sections from other "books" are fun and I found enjoyable
There is a lot of confusion throughout this book, you're not told much about the main characters, the residency that Mathilde finds herself on is not explained for a frustratingly long time, in order to convey HER confusion with Thought Art the reader is simultaneously confused which while effective was not encouraging as a reading experience.
From the point where Erskine-Lily is introduced (about 3/4 of the way through) I found myself enjoying everything much more, and I read the final 100 or so pages in one sitting very comfortably but at the start I couldn't read 5 pages without fidgeting and wanting to move onto something else
Overall, I wouldn't really recommend this book unless you had intentions to discuss wider themes that it covers (e.g. what is left out of historical canon/archives, exploration of people of colour through history, queerness) in which case I think it is very interesting but without these avenues for focus I think I would have found myself too overwhelmed to take anything of value in
graone's review against another edition
4.0
Pearly, decadent, captivating - i haven't read a book like this in ages and loved it
jellerie's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
ottinye's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
glass_chaim's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
m7mdtonsy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0