lindsayerin's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Genocide, Infidelity, Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Sexual harassment
eralbesu's review
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I really want to enjoy this book, and there were elements I did enjoy. For instance, I enjoyed reading about The Hague and the trials and the work of an international court interpreter. However, the story felt a bit shallow. Every time I thought I’d discovered the plot line that was going to add more depth to the story, it plateaued.
All in all, it was a quick read that managed to feel light, despite moments of darker subject matter. Sometimes I need that in a book.
All in all, it was a quick read that managed to feel light, despite moments of darker subject matter. Sometimes I need that in a book.
Graphic: Colonisation, Genocide, Hate crime, Violence, and Infidelity
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Grief, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Blood, and Cancer
laurensilva's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Violence, Death, Genocide, and Gun violence
vif's review
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Interesting to read about court proceedings from an interpreter's perspective.
Also really interesting how you start to see how an interpreter is just a tool and not a person contributing to anything. I felt this was used as an effective metaphor for how women are seen in society.
However I didn't like reading this book much. It's titled 'intimacies' and it explores many intimate relationships in its many forms but the main character's intimate relationships are all quite negative except with her mum. It makes for quite a depressing read.
Also really interesting how you start to see how an interpreter is just a tool and not a person contributing to anything. I felt this was used as an effective metaphor for how women are seen in society.
However I didn't like reading this book much. It's titled 'intimacies' and it explores many intimate relationships in its many forms but the main character's intimate relationships are all quite negative except with her mum. It makes for quite a depressing read.
Spoiler
I also didn't understand why she was so infatuated with Anton?? And why did she choose to go back to Adriaan despite how poorly he treated her??Graphic: Violence, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Infidelity
quickermorequickly's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Short, thoughtful read about the space between languages, between individual people— even between national jurisdictions (our scene is among the elite interpreters at The Hague, who interpret proceedings in international court). Our heroine even spends weeks alone at someone else's apartment, among unfamiliar belongings. There are big questions here on what human beings owe one another.
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Genocide
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexism, War, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual violence
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