Take a photo of a barcode or cover
whatyouegg 's review for:
Bina: A Novel in Warnings
by Anakana Schofield
Pros: This idea of a novel constructed from random warnings and reflections scribbled on ephemeral by an elderly lady with a fast-approaching deadline is so intriguing. I love the puzzle of it all, I love strong old woman characters. Bina is spirited, determined, haunted, and seemingly quite confused at times.
Cons: I felt that the narrative was often circular, repetitive, unclear. There is little grounding in the setting or in the characters.The ending is unsatisfactory, not just because no plot questions are answered but also because Bina has no internal resolution.
That said, all of these factors do make the novel more realistic in its format - Bina herself is circling through the same events, trying to make sense of it all while struggling with memory issues; and if Bina was arrested in the end, she would not have continued her warnings. So ultimately I do appreciate the creativity and dedication to the format and conceptualization of this novel.
Cons: I felt that the narrative was often circular, repetitive, unclear. There is little grounding in the setting or in the characters.
That said, all of these factors do make the novel more realistic in its format - Bina herself is circling through the same events, trying to make sense of it all while struggling with memory issues; and if Bina was arrested in the end, she would not have continued her warnings.