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alyx30's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
emmymars's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
3.0
laran_s's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
noapathy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Set in the near future after environmental degradation takes its toll on society, this novel is structured as an art historian‘s journal dealing with a violent turning point in her life. It contains many thoughtful reflections on misogyny and destruction in art and life, but still fell a bit flat for me.
notoriousesr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
In the warming-devastated near future, art historian Penelope is finishing up the archives at Mornington Hall, her home for the last 20-odd years, before it is demolished. The imminent return of her brother-in-law, who sexually abused her years before, turns her final days at Mornington into a prismatic interrogation of art and trauma.
Landscapes started slow, but I found myself getting more and more invested in Penelope’s story as the book went on. Lai’s prose is unparalleled, and her style works seamlessly with the cross-genre nature of the book (part fictional memoir, part archival record, part essay collection). I won’t say this is a perfect book--at times it was a bit slow--but I will say that it is a rare piece of literary fiction that is absolutely worth a read if you like intellectually-stimulating, compassionate, reflective works. And it’s her debut! How lucky we are! Landscapes is an easy 4.5 Turner artworks.
mariball's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mistermarshmallow's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75