A review by 5aru
The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox

adventurous challenging funny mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book was complex; sometimes delightfully, and sometimes frustratingly. I really loved its creativity and the gentleness of its storytelling — its focus on the small, the quiet feelings that might have taken a secondary position in a different kind of novel. However, there were times when, despite paying really close attention (this is not a book you can read without paying attention to the details), I couldn't quite make out the hows or the whys of what was happening. The worldbuilding was confusingly vague at times, leaving me feeling like I was missing crucial information. I tried to take it in stride (what else is there to do, after all) and really enjoyed myself reading, despite that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage and Violence

Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Fire/Fire injury

It's not really a miscarriage, but there isn't a specific tag for this:

at one point, Taryn describes having had an ectopic pregnancy, and the inevitable pain and grief that came with it.