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A review by carbs666
Matrix by Lauren Groff
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I don't know what it is about books that don't use quotation marks to indicate speech but I'm such a slut for them. Anyways, I loved this book.
The way Groff effortlessly explores the mystical, sacred lives of characters bound to their faith while simultaneously getting into the mud and shit and darkness and weirdness of being a human body on this earth is really provoking. There are so many beautiful quiet moments of contemplation and description in this book about a woman who knows she is destined for greatness and therefore makes greatness happen, against all odds and all opponents. I also liked how Groff played with the prophetess element of the book by giving Marie holy yet heretical visions of the future, the future in which we now live, and imbued a sense of foreboding in the descriptions of the impact of the nuns' ambitions on their natural world. This book is rich in symbolism that isn't allowed to linger in the subtext - both Groff and Marie have to pick it up and turn it about in their hands, so by the end of the book the consequences are very clear.
I will echo what some other reviews have said, which is basically that there isn't much believable external conflict for Marie to face so the book can feel a bit repetitive. But overall, this book blazes with holy and profane love, and its gay as hell.
The way Groff effortlessly explores the mystical, sacred lives of characters bound to their faith while simultaneously getting into the mud and shit and darkness and weirdness of being a human body on this earth is really provoking. There are so many beautiful quiet moments of contemplation and description in this book about a woman who knows she is destined for greatness and therefore makes greatness happen, against all odds and all opponents. I also liked how Groff played with the prophetess element of the book by giving Marie holy yet heretical visions of the future, the future in which we now live, and imbued a sense of foreboding in the descriptions of the impact of the nuns' ambitions on their natural world. This book is rich in symbolism that isn't allowed to linger in the subtext - both Groff and Marie have to pick it up and turn it about in their hands, so by the end of the book the consequences are very clear.
I will echo what some other reviews have said, which is basically that there isn't much believable external conflict for Marie to face so the book can feel a bit repetitive. But overall, this book blazes with holy and profane love, and its gay as hell.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Violence