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A review by kris_mccracken
Time and Tide by Edna O'Brien
1.0
"Time and Tide" by Edna O'Brien is a slow, tedious trudge through the life of an unlikeable protagonist, leaving much to be desired. O'Brien's celebrated talent for piercing insight and lyrical prose is absent here, delivering a narrative that feels both disjointed and devoid of meaningful engagement.
It revolves around Nell, a protagonist whose constant suffering and frustrating lack of agency make her impossible to sympathise with. She drifts through life as a victim, aggressively clinging to her misfortunes without ever showing the initiative to rise above them. Rather than drawing readers into the complexities of her emotional world, Nell repels with her relentless passivity and self-pity. It's hard to invest in a character who seems to prefer wallowing in her own misery, overtaking even the smallest steps toward change. This makes for an intensely unlikeable lead, one who evokes exasperation rather than empathy.
Then there's the pacing. To call it glacial would be too generous. O'Brien's penchant for florid prose works against her here, dragging the story to a near standstill. The narrative is a sluggish, wearisome journey with no clear direction and little incentive to care where it's headed. Staying engaged becomes an exercise in patience, as even the most pivotal moments feel bogged down in endless rumination.
Worse still is the confusing, disjointed narrative structure. Despite spending far too much time in Nell's head, I found myself grappling with the point of many of her actions (or rather, inactions). The lack of clarity doesn't add to the novel's depth; it simply muddies the waters, leaving the reader adrift in a sea of vagueness. The entire exercise feels like wading through a fog of existential ennui without the benefit of a meaningful destination.
⭐ 1/2
It revolves around Nell, a protagonist whose constant suffering and frustrating lack of agency make her impossible to sympathise with. She drifts through life as a victim, aggressively clinging to her misfortunes without ever showing the initiative to rise above them. Rather than drawing readers into the complexities of her emotional world, Nell repels with her relentless passivity and self-pity. It's hard to invest in a character who seems to prefer wallowing in her own misery, overtaking even the smallest steps toward change. This makes for an intensely unlikeable lead, one who evokes exasperation rather than empathy.
Then there's the pacing. To call it glacial would be too generous. O'Brien's penchant for florid prose works against her here, dragging the story to a near standstill. The narrative is a sluggish, wearisome journey with no clear direction and little incentive to care where it's headed. Staying engaged becomes an exercise in patience, as even the most pivotal moments feel bogged down in endless rumination.
Worse still is the confusing, disjointed narrative structure. Despite spending far too much time in Nell's head, I found myself grappling with the point of many of her actions (or rather, inactions). The lack of clarity doesn't add to the novel's depth; it simply muddies the waters, leaving the reader adrift in a sea of vagueness. The entire exercise feels like wading through a fog of existential ennui without the benefit of a meaningful destination.
⭐ 1/2