toryshepeluk's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
skylarak's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mellowmoon's review
challenging
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
awsams's review against another edition
4.0
I'm here for anything calling itself "Jewish magical lesbian realism"
corrie's review
3.0
Running Fiercely Toward a High Thin Sound certainly was something special although I have to read it again at some point to really absorb and appreciate the third part of the book where it all gets very esoteric and dream-like. At this point I wasn’t really in the mood for it so I mostly skimmed over that. But I want to do Judith Katz justice because the writing is too good to treat it like I did.
The story is about a somewhat dysfunctional Jewish family in the late 60ies and centers around lives of Electa, Nadine and Jane Morningstar. Nadine, the deeply troubled one, has been estranged from her family since that time she put her hair on fire. After a stay in the hospital she can no longer bare to live at home so she moves in with her grandmother until she runs away and vanishes from their lives. Jane accidentally spots her 5 years later in a lesbian Jewish community where they both live and it sets off a series of events with Electa's wedding extravaganza as one of the high points.
The writing is good, there’s some good Jewish humor (the kind I like) and although we alternate between Nadine, her girlfriend Rose, Jane and their mother, they have very distinctive voices. You have to get used to it though because there is no warning in who’s head you’ll be (I started reading the story thinking it was Jane engaging in some incestuous activities with her sister Nadine and was mildly confused about that until I figured out we were actually seeing it from Rose’s pov).
f/f
Themes: coming of age, mental illness, familial dysfunction, bridezillas, a lot of pot, romantic obsession, weird dreams, political lesbians in the 70ies.
3 stars for now, but I know it might get a higher score after I give it another try at some point.
The story is about a somewhat dysfunctional Jewish family in the late 60ies and centers around lives of Electa, Nadine and Jane Morningstar. Nadine, the deeply troubled one, has been estranged from her family since that time she put her hair on fire. After a stay in the hospital she can no longer bare to live at home so she moves in with her grandmother until she runs away and vanishes from their lives. Jane accidentally spots her 5 years later in a lesbian Jewish community where they both live and it sets off a series of events with Electa's wedding extravaganza as one of the high points.
The writing is good, there’s some good Jewish humor (the kind I like) and although we alternate between Nadine, her girlfriend Rose, Jane and their mother, they have very distinctive voices. You have to get used to it though because there is no warning in who’s head you’ll be (I started reading the story thinking it was Jane engaging in some incestuous activities with her sister Nadine and was mildly confused about that until I figured out we were actually seeing it from Rose’s pov).
f/f
Themes: coming of age, mental illness, familial dysfunction, bridezillas, a lot of pot, romantic obsession, weird dreams, political lesbians in the 70ies.
3 stars for now, but I know it might get a higher score after I give it another try at some point.
More...