A review by emreadsbooksagain
Permafrost by Eva Baltasar

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Permafrost by Eva Baltasar shapes a piercing, startling, eye through which to view the world of the narrator. It hits in so many ways: bleak family dynamics (the mother, oh!), the compromise of sacrifice, visceral desire. The narrative jumps back and forth in ways that feel purposefully disorienting and decentering, creating tremors as the elements explored by Baltasar shake our ways of seeing. Such a clever and raw text (which also feels like the translator worked from inside the words and images) resulting in a beautiful and savage book. I could read this over and over and keep finding more. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings