A review by rmnedder
Hotel World by Ali Smith

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

4.75

Hotel World was an absolutely gorgeous, character-centered reflection on the big picture and the smallest details of daily life. The prose was inventive, and the way its style changed between characters was masterful--from whimsical to plain, past to present to future, sturdy to disorienting--and made things feel surprisingly intimate. Each character was well-developed (even in the short space of their vignette of life) and the way their stories intertwined felt very natural. The way Smith played with scale was wonderful; everything was given its attention, from the smallest speck of dust to the broadest view of the city, and it was wonderful to get swallowed up in it all. 

I found myself deeply moved by this book and all its eccentricities. What a gorgeous and profound examination of grief and life. Read the content warnings on this one.
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