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A review by thewordsdevourer
How to Order the Universe by María José Ferrada
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
an unconventional story abt a salesman father and his daughter, how to order the universe is a surprisingly charming novel, undercut by a sense of understatedness thats nevertheless filled w/ metaphor, warmth, and grim persistence.
the main father-daughter duo are very endearing somehow; they act like colleagues more than anything else but ig the seriousness of which the father regards his daughter and and indulges her to be his accomplice makes it all quite quirky and endearing. aside from this, however, the novel's other aspects are quite forgettable, and the dark turn of events towards the end - while i suppose is realistically reflective of historical facts - feels too abrupt for me, yet it's admirable that ferrada's able to relay quite a lot in as few words.
the main father-daughter duo are very endearing somehow; they act like colleagues more than anything else but ig the seriousness of which the father regards his daughter and and indulges her to be his accomplice makes it all quite quirky and endearing. aside from this, however, the novel's other aspects are quite forgettable, and the dark turn of events towards the end - while i suppose is realistically reflective of historical facts - feels too abrupt for me, yet it's admirable that ferrada's able to relay quite a lot in as few words.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts