geller's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
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
4.0
bisexual's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
elenajohansen's review against another edition
1.0
DNF @ page 50, around 20%.
I was initially intrigued by the idea of the narrator perceiving his wife as an imposter, as a sign of either mental illness, falling out of love with her, or both. In order to do this, though, the writing style is heavily laced with repetition, filter words, and other tricks to distance the reader from the narrator. Which I found an odd choice, given that it's in first person.
This quibble is definitely literary in nature, but this work is obviously striving to be "literature" in the way I dislike most, stressing the importance of style and theme over all else, including character, plot, and reader engagement.
Mission success: I am not engaged.
I was initially intrigued by the idea of the narrator perceiving his wife as an imposter, as a sign of either mental illness, falling out of love with her, or both. In order to do this, though, the writing style is heavily laced with repetition, filter words, and other tricks to distance the reader from the narrator. Which I found an odd choice, given that it's in first person.
This quibble is definitely literary in nature, but this work is obviously striving to be "literature" in the way I dislike most, stressing the importance of style and theme over all else, including character, plot, and reader engagement.
Mission success: I am not engaged.
lmrising's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
bookishuniverse's review against another edition
4.0
Very weird, but at the same time good. A lot of the time you aren't quite sure what is going on, but neither is the narrator so you have that connection--and it works.
rdreading9's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It’s a weird one, but I liked it.
2kerrymehome's review
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.5
I love how Leo's intellectual ego is the source of his misogyny, his delusion, and his self regard. Like so many selfish smart men, his irreproachable intelligence blinds him to the point of not being intelligent at all, and I left the book feeling sorry for him. He reminds me a bit of Pnin in Pnin, or Ben Chang in the episode of Community when he pretends to be a noir detective. I just found myself wishing Rema would find someone else, he clearly has such a limited appreciation of her. But the book's weirdness and navel-gazing descent into madness was a fun exercise in proving myself more sane than someone else.
bettyvd's review against another edition
2.0
Bij momenten leuk en vinnig, op andere momenten te zwaar en te vol. Spielerei met gekende neurologische aandoening waarbij het bekende als vreemd ervaren wordt. Ok dus,maar ik ben er niet wild van.
domcarino's review against another edition
I couldn't connect with the narrator. I found him patronizing, long-winded, and delusional (which was maybe the point, but I didn't want to suffer through the entire book to find out). The meteorology plotline didn't interest me at all. I really enjoyed "Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch" by this same author, but I just don't think this book is my cup of tea.