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kailinlee 's review for:
The World Cannot Give
by Tara Isabella Burton
2.5 stars — although my disclaimer is, I would still recommend this book to friends. I read it in a couple of sittings and had a blast, even though I was disappointed it didn't have the depth it promised.
I'm torn because the book really did have such a fun mix of ideas to explore — the transcendence and devotion angle to the academic novel had moments where it worked. The problem with it is that it reads like a first or second draft — so much promise, but rough execution. I wanted to edit the whole time. Which, in one sense, isn't too bad, because it means it had somewhere to go. The characters weren't built out enough, but if she'd given more than a couple sentences of background to them, they could have lived. The prose was embarrassing, yet read like the crazed high schoolers she was emulating. It isn't hopeless.
As far as religion, the book's really more about faith in and devotion to people and authors. There were some fun theological questions at the beginning that Burton could have gotten into, but my guess is she was trying to keep the book accessible for a wide range of people.
All of this said, I saw some complaints that Laura wasn't relatable and let me tell you — if you were an intense, homeschooled, religiously raised little nerd who wandered into choir and climbed up on stage in raptures over harmonies and lyrics and oh, this is transcendence and beauty and meaning and glory; my small, shy, serious self part of something that mattered — you might stare your 16-year-old self in the face occasionally throughout the book. Shoutout to Burton for having some understanding of and playing with a jumble of backgrounds that called me out. I think you're incredibly cool, even if I gave your book two stars.
If you can go into it knowing it's a bit ridiculous even while it takes itself seriously — like our little fanatic Virginia — you'll have a good time and might even get a chance to think about a thing or two.
I'm torn because the book really did have such a fun mix of ideas to explore — the transcendence and devotion angle to the academic novel had moments where it worked. The problem with it is that it reads like a first or second draft — so much promise, but rough execution. I wanted to edit the whole time. Which, in one sense, isn't too bad, because it means it had somewhere to go. The characters weren't built out enough, but if she'd given more than a couple sentences of background to them, they could have lived. The prose was embarrassing, yet read like the crazed high schoolers she was emulating. It isn't hopeless.
As far as religion, the book's really more about faith in and devotion to people and authors. There were some fun theological questions at the beginning that Burton could have gotten into, but my guess is she was trying to keep the book accessible for a wide range of people.
All of this said, I saw some complaints that Laura wasn't relatable and let me tell you — if you were an intense, homeschooled, religiously raised little nerd who wandered into choir and climbed up on stage in raptures over harmonies and lyrics and oh, this is transcendence and beauty and meaning and glory; my small, shy, serious self part of something that mattered — you might stare your 16-year-old self in the face occasionally throughout the book. Shoutout to Burton for having some understanding of and playing with a jumble of backgrounds that called me out. I think you're incredibly cool, even if I gave your book two stars.
If you can go into it knowing it's a bit ridiculous even while it takes itself seriously — like our little fanatic Virginia — you'll have a good time and might even get a chance to think about a thing or two.