A review by erinmcentegart
The Voids by Ryan O'Connor

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Stunning writing, even if the prose did feel sometimes overwrought for me. So emotionally resonant. O’Connor’s protagonist feels like a real person, so wasn’t at all surprised to learn the book is semi-autobiographical - which also somehow made some uncomfortable exchanges the protagonist had even more uncomfortable. Some of the situations presented by the book felt a bit too absurd for me (the Chinese restaurant exchange !!) and I did struggle a bit to get more of a handle on their reality, but a lot of this is more of a personal incompatibility with the book’s approach in places, rather than technical complaints. 

I think, above all, you can tell this is a book written from the heart - constructed with utmost care - and that makes it beautiful despite any personal reservations.