Reviews

A Separation by Katie Kitamura

3rian's review against another edition

3.0

Whew. Direct, compelling writing about the end of a marriage. There’s also a mystery of sorts that becomes more about implications and impacts than the situation itself. I’m not sure how to describe it without spoiling anything other than to say that the author has an incredible knack for exploring the unspoken thoughts that inform interpersonal dynamics. I was especially impressed by an extended scene where the narrator is observing a heated interaction from a distance. She doesn’t speak the language but creates her own convincing (and elaborate!) interpretation based on body language and her own biased projections. Unusual and mesmerizing to read.

The story itself is a slow burn and none of the characters are particularly likable. Still, I took my time and immersed myself within the novel’s thoughtful meditative reflections on intimacy, trust, and betrayal. Similar to my experience with her novel [b:Intimacies|55918474|Intimacies|Katie Kitamura|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1605570704l/55918474._SX50_.jpg|87129689], this one is more about the mood but is still excellent storytelling that's worth a look.

suesue527's review against another edition

3.0

The writing was great but the plot fell flat. Not enough drama for the all the “secrets.”

rhysdri's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

3.5

eludemann's review against another edition

3.0

I was really enjoying this, but then I forgot that I even finished it and promptly couldn't remember much about it, so I guess I'll only give it 3 stars? Compelling, slow-burn-ish, and mildly uncomfortable.

nuhafariha's review against another edition

3.0

I wasn't really sure what to think of this novel, and I feel like the author wasn't sure either. It's a hesitant hello, like the friend who hasn't quite found their voice yet. The prose is lovely with long sentences and poetic descriptions of little things that make the piece seem alive, and the plot is simple, easy enough to follow but with a multitude of complexity. However, the narrator borders on being overly neurotic which is made even more apparent by the lack of plot line.

emilybryk's review against another edition

3.0

Unsatisfying. It feels like it's gong to build up to something, then sort of noodles around. Would have probably been a bang-on short story.

andreamanuel13's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

camcc115's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I just wish she'd gone a little...deeper. The writing is great, and I would love to read her other books because the story of this one just really fell flat to me.

el_tuttle's review against another edition

2.0

To be clear, I read this because Kitamura keeps coming up under "readers also enjoyed" for people like Elif Batuman and Jennifer Egan, and Intimaces was checked out of the library. Kitamura is not reminiscent of those authors.

For a story about betrayal, deceit, guilt, and grief, the entire work was remarkably unevocative. I don't think I felt a single emotion the entire time (and I'm a big emotional baby who cries at pretty much all books).

Then of course there is the stylistic choice to drop quotation marks from dialogue. Why do authors do this? If you're going to make an annoying literary choice, at least tell a story with more substance. Neither the writing nor the narrative were compelling.

poorashleu's review against another edition

2.0

I was just...overly bored.