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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
The author throws you into a beautiful story. Paints elaborate images of lovers and dreamers. Offers an adventure that leaves you feeling…everything.
I thought I’d come to see if you’re OK. But now I’m seeking permission to die in your arms.
challenging
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Loved the clever ideas of this book and really appreciated the characters from all over the world… but somehow the storytelling was hard for me to follow.
Ease of Reading: 3✨
Characters: 4✨
Plot: 3✨
Writing: 4✨
Overall: 3✨
Format: Paperback - Library copy
Month Read: Sep 22
Recommend: Maybe
This was a very unique exploration into magical realism on a train. I enjoyed reading this book quite a lot, and one I’ll probably think about. It was clever, although I’d say not for everyone as there’s a fine line of just not getting it. The LGBTQ+ rep is great though and I enjoyed the way the backstories wound together.
Characters: 4✨
Plot: 3✨
Writing: 4✨
Overall: 3✨
Format: Paperback - Library copy
Month Read: Sep 22
Recommend: Maybe
This was a very unique exploration into magical realism on a train. I enjoyed reading this book quite a lot, and one I’ll probably think about. It was clever, although I’d say not for everyone as there’s a fine line of just not getting it. The LGBTQ+ rep is great though and I enjoyed the way the backstories wound together.
I liked it. The characters were interesting. it was mysterious really easy to read and a page turner. but i don’t know if i am personally a fan of mystery or the sort of existential questioning that makes it eerie. But it was written fantastically.
A vibrant setting is offset by a generally incoherent story that I didn’t really care for.
Otto and Xavier (and their pet mongoose) are taking a honeymoon on Xavier’s Aunt’s friend’s private train, but kooky characters and a possible haunting complicate things immediately. I read this for a book club and was unimpressed. The story wants to be wacky and surrealist, but either it seems like a pretty straightforward ghost book (but since it doesn’t acknowledge it enough it doesn’t adequately discuss the themes/repercussions) or its just incoherent and without resolution. If you generally like lit fics, then take my review with a grain of salt, because I don’t really have the patience for them. They often, as this seems to, want to use fantastical elements without really committing to them or thinking them through and then gesturing to them and saying “Look! Art! You don’t get it because you aren’t thinking hard enough!’, but I think I don’t get it because it’s sloppy writing. I will say that the vibes are like if Wes Anderson made Snowpiercer, which was fun! And the discrete scenes and dialogues have a wacky humor that I really enjoyed. But especially in a book club where everyone is arguing about the meaning and the metaphor I felt that it was some combination of incoherent, not inventive, and unable to commit to its themes. If it is a ghost story the plot clearly seems: The father of Prem had his wife die and he then summoned (either intentionally or unintentionally) a desire spirit that granted his wish for his dead son to come back. Ava is so sure in her own reality (radically sane or whatever the psychologist said) that she can’t perceive the supernatural. Her attitude eventually leads the father to reject his false son, but the spirit persists after father’s death, instead bopping around the city, trying to fulfill people’s desires, such as being the “perfect” boyfriends for both Otto and Xavier, but the spirit’s lack of agency/humanity makes the relationships eventually feel false and they end again and again until Xavier and Otto find each other and a real, imperfect human relationship. On some level, I find this compelling, but the story obfuscated everything so much that I don’t think it deserves recognition for a compelling metaphor. I also have no idea what Ava’s ability to Unsee people means and I don’t think the narrative does either.
Overall, I don’t recommend this book. But if you think you “get it”, please tell me what I missed.
DNF, premise is very cool. Hard to follow, lost interest.
Incredibly odd, which worked for a while but then it couldn’t hold my interest.
It is completely like trying to read a Wes Anderson film; in the case of a film it’s a few hours, and the delivery of the dialogue is controlled, relying less upon inner dialogue and more upon the actors. I could play along for a while, but not for that long.
I appreciate the craft of making the surrealistic setting on this odd train headed nowhere (much like the book, or the main characters heading into being ‘unseen’ in someone else’s pursuit of cold hard cash), and of course the named mongease (mongooses?) and playing a theramin (blindfolded! Or in the dark!) work perfectly well in that setting. And then the bizarre bazaar. I think the letters near the end made the most sense, and were almost a break from the rest of the novel’s style.
It is completely like trying to read a Wes Anderson film; in the case of a film it’s a few hours, and the delivery of the dialogue is controlled, relying less upon inner dialogue and more upon the actors. I could play along for a while, but not for that long.
I appreciate the craft of making the surrealistic setting on this odd train headed nowhere (much like the book, or the main characters heading into being ‘unseen’ in someone else’s pursuit of cold hard cash), and of course the named mongease (mongooses?) and playing a theramin (blindfolded! Or in the dark!) work perfectly well in that setting. And then the bizarre bazaar. I think the letters near the end made the most sense, and were almost a break from the rest of the novel’s style.
Yeah, I think I get it. Domestic mongooses are the next big fashion trend
it’s easy to overdo things in the sincere pursuit of tranquility.
ms oyeyemi really knows how to leave you wondering what the fuck just happened!?
ms oyeyemi really knows how to leave you wondering what the fuck just happened!?