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A review by annagerman
Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Way too much and also not enough.
An interesting portrayal of xenophobia, particularly antisemitism. There were some interesting observations about how cultural and familial roles are ingrained into our personally, as well as our history and community.
The book did manage to create a very charged atmosphere, reminiscent of witch trials.
And there were some though-provoking observations strewed in between the meandering, occasionally unintelligible, constant internal dialogue.
However, the writing was way too dense, bogged down by 10$ and 100$ words. I don't particularly enjoy train-of-thought writing, and though I did see the purpose it served in this instance, it was tiresome. It felt almost a chore to read at times, especially when the MC went on the more abstract tangents.
The character (since there is essentially only one in this book, on a prolonged internal self-psychoanalytical journey) was almost an allegory and not an actual human. Since there was no dialogue at all, and all interactions were limited in both duration and description, the story felt very isolated and impersonal.
Overall this book is tolerable only because of it's short length. There's no way I could have survived more than 200 pages of this.
verdict - 2/5 dead pigs
Great vibes and some interesting observation, but they get lost in the relentless over-written bombardment of text.
Edit - I originally have it 2 stars, then 2.5, now I give it 3 - this book just grows inside my mind like a fungus and come back to me at unexpected moments
An interesting portrayal of xenophobia, particularly antisemitism. There were some interesting observations about how cultural and familial roles are ingrained into our personally, as well as our history and community.
The book did manage to create a very charged atmosphere, reminiscent of witch trials.
And there were some though-provoking observations strewed in between the meandering, occasionally unintelligible, constant internal dialogue.
However, the writing was way too dense, bogged down by 10$ and 100$ words. I don't particularly enjoy train-of-thought writing, and though I did see the purpose it served in this instance, it was tiresome. It felt almost a chore to read at times, especially when the MC went on the more abstract tangents.
The character (since there is essentially only one in this book, on a prolonged internal self-psychoanalytical journey) was almost an allegory and not an actual human. Since there was no dialogue at all, and all interactions were limited in both duration and description, the story felt very isolated and impersonal.
Overall this book is tolerable only because of it's short length. There's no way I could have survived more than 200 pages of this.
verdict - 2/5 dead pigs
Great vibes and some interesting observation, but they get lost in the relentless over-written bombardment of text.
Edit - I originally have it 2 stars, then 2.5, now I give it 3 - this book just grows inside my mind like a fungus and come back to me at unexpected moments
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism and Xenophobia