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librarylandlisa's review against another edition
4.0
Well that was different, but good. Thanks BOTM club :)
shanequea's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars!
I really struggled with a rating for this one. I liked things about it, even if I didn't understand parts of the story. I think for me, the story was interesting; just not interesting enough for me to give it a higher rating. As the rating suggests, it was okay. The one thing I actually like was the snappy, unapologetic writing style that may have turned other reviewers off. With that being said, I felt that some ideas and characters, that might have been more fleshed out were merely shadows. The plot seemed nonsensical, but maybe that's because it's too far outside my scope of existence.
I came to this book with an open-mind because it wasn't the kind of book I'd necessarily choose for myself (it was sent to me because I didn't choose from the selection in time). It's definitely not the type or writing style or subject matter that I typically read and I think that's why I didn't enjoy it more. It was a bit harder for me to connect to the characters and really immerse myself into the story.
The modern bohemian lifestyle has always interested me. Throw in activism and a lot of family drama and you have an interesting enough novel to read through once, but for me the ultimate description can only be forgettable.
I really struggled with a rating for this one. I liked things about it, even if I didn't understand parts of the story. I think for me, the story was interesting; just not interesting enough for me to give it a higher rating. As the rating suggests, it was okay. The one thing I actually like was the snappy, unapologetic writing style that may have turned other reviewers off. With that being said, I felt that some ideas and characters, that might have been more fleshed out were merely shadows. The plot seemed nonsensical, but maybe that's because it's too far outside my scope of existence.
I came to this book with an open-mind because it wasn't the kind of book I'd necessarily choose for myself (it was sent to me because I didn't choose from the selection in time). It's definitely not the type or writing style or subject matter that I typically read and I think that's why I didn't enjoy it more. It was a bit harder for me to connect to the characters and really immerse myself into the story.
The modern bohemian lifestyle has always interested me. Throw in activism and a lot of family drama and you have an interesting enough novel to read through once, but for me the ultimate description can only be forgettable.
ghazalg's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I don't know why I bothered finishing this book. I thought all of this might lead to some point where I'd finally understand the author and book but it just didn't. Maybe I'm not 'cool' enough to read such an 'artsy' book but I really didn't understand the hype. The characters were unlovable and not relatable, it felt incredibly self-indulgent and just weird. I gave it a 2 as it still somehow kept me reading till I finished it.
_lj_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
samstillreading's review against another edition
3.0
Nell Zink is an author I’ve had on my must read list for ages. I’ve borrowed Mislaid a couple of times from the library, but never got the time to actually read it. Then in my local bookshop I saw the cover of Nicotine and fell in love. How ironic! How cool! Then when the bookseller told me enthusiastically how much he loved Nell Zink (he hadn’t yet read Nicotine, but loved The Wallcreeper), I was sold. I wanted to love this book so hard, but in reality it made me feel old and out of touch. The writing is brilliant, detailed and ironic but the subject matter mainly made me think…what?
You could divide up Nicotine into two or three sections, the first being the end of life of Penny’s beloved father, second her initiation into squatters and their causes and the third being slowly re-joining the majority of the human race in terms of a job. The first part with Penny’s father is haunting, sad and downright disgusting in places. Even though Penny and her father Norm are fictional, I was really incensed as to the care Norm received in “palliative care”. It was absolutely rubbish, and no care was involved! Norm’s care in the hospice should have been in tune holistically with his own following as a Shamanist, but it was the completely opposite. It shouldn’t have been like that!
After Norm’s death, Penny is at a loose end. Unemployed and having done a large chunk of care for her father, the rest of the (highly dysfunctional) family decide that she should rescue Norm’s parents’ house from the squatters and restore it. Initially she goes reluctantly, but on meeting the squatters at the house now called Nicotine, she falls for Rob, an asexual bicycle repairer. She joins the group in what they say is pro-smoker’s rights. In reality it means being cordoned off at rallies and sitting around a lot, talking about saving the world but being focused on sex, Bucket Monsters and hanging around smoking/drinking. This was the part I really didn’t understand very much. Is it meant to be some kind of irony, rebels who don’t do much rebelling? People with labels that don’t match their reality? All the characters are unique and quirky, but I really couldn’t care about them too deeply nor could I work out their trajectory. This section made me feel old! Am I missing references to hipster or alternative culture? I’m going to take the whole things as an ironic post-college rebellion by not really doing much but working at being alternative.
Then Penny starts to realise that maybe Rob isn’t her thing and gets a job. She goes to work, dresses in a suit. Meanwhile the other residents of Nicotine have fled after the escape of the Bucket Monster after a nasty incident involving Penny’s brother. They are on a road trip, lost but looking for similar people and places. Meanwhile, order is being restored to Nicotine by the way of Penny’s brother, who is trying to impress one of Nicotine’s now former residents. Will it work? Will Penny get back with Rob? It’s all a bit confusing as characters move on, then return to square one.
The writing is what makes Nicotine compelling, addictive like its namesake. But as for content…maybe we aren’t meant to be emotionally involved in this book but cynically taking a look at lazy politics. I’ve bought The Wallcreeper on the bookseller’s recommendation to read, and am hoping that I enjoy it more.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
You could divide up Nicotine into two or three sections, the first being the end of life of Penny’s beloved father, second her initiation into squatters and their causes and the third being slowly re-joining the majority of the human race in terms of a job. The first part with Penny’s father is haunting, sad and downright disgusting in places. Even though Penny and her father Norm are fictional, I was really incensed as to the care Norm received in “palliative care”. It was absolutely rubbish, and no care was involved! Norm’s care in the hospice should have been in tune holistically with his own following as a Shamanist, but it was the completely opposite. It shouldn’t have been like that!
After Norm’s death, Penny is at a loose end. Unemployed and having done a large chunk of care for her father, the rest of the (highly dysfunctional) family decide that she should rescue Norm’s parents’ house from the squatters and restore it. Initially she goes reluctantly, but on meeting the squatters at the house now called Nicotine, she falls for Rob, an asexual bicycle repairer. She joins the group in what they say is pro-smoker’s rights. In reality it means being cordoned off at rallies and sitting around a lot, talking about saving the world but being focused on sex, Bucket Monsters and hanging around smoking/drinking. This was the part I really didn’t understand very much. Is it meant to be some kind of irony, rebels who don’t do much rebelling? People with labels that don’t match their reality? All the characters are unique and quirky, but I really couldn’t care about them too deeply nor could I work out their trajectory. This section made me feel old! Am I missing references to hipster or alternative culture? I’m going to take the whole things as an ironic post-college rebellion by not really doing much but working at being alternative.
Then Penny starts to realise that maybe Rob isn’t her thing and gets a job. She goes to work, dresses in a suit. Meanwhile the other residents of Nicotine have fled after the escape of the Bucket Monster after a nasty incident involving Penny’s brother. They are on a road trip, lost but looking for similar people and places. Meanwhile, order is being restored to Nicotine by the way of Penny’s brother, who is trying to impress one of Nicotine’s now former residents. Will it work? Will Penny get back with Rob? It’s all a bit confusing as characters move on, then return to square one.
The writing is what makes Nicotine compelling, addictive like its namesake. But as for content…maybe we aren’t meant to be emotionally involved in this book but cynically taking a look at lazy politics. I’ve bought The Wallcreeper on the bookseller’s recommendation to read, and am hoping that I enjoy it more.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
alisonjfields's review against another edition
4.0
7.9/10
Not as strong as "Mislaid," (which I still think was a practically perfect satire), but hilarious nonetheless.
Not as strong as "Mislaid," (which I still think was a practically perfect satire), but hilarious nonetheless.
arausch24's review against another edition
challenging
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
2.0