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A review by chantaal
Rose/House by Arkady Martine
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Well, this was quite a disappointment. I didn't go into this expecting something pedestrian, but I also didn't except to be mostly confused and adrift, and not in a good way.
The writing was the strength of this story, and in a way also the worst part of it for me. My brain really did not gel well with the stylistic choices made here. It seemed like Martine purposefully wrote in a way to keep the story itself and the reader feeling unmoored, as strange and off-kilter as being in the Rose House would feel for the characters. Unfortunately, purposeful as it may be, I bounced off those writing choices.
I left this story feeling like there wasn't really a point.
The writing was the strength of this story, and in a way also the worst part of it for me. My brain really did not gel well with the stylistic choices made here. It seemed like Martine purposefully wrote in a way to keep the story itself and the reader feeling unmoored, as strange and off-kilter as being in the Rose House would feel for the characters. Unfortunately, purposeful as it may be, I bounced off those writing choices.
I left this story feeling like there wasn't really a point.