ferris_mx's review against another edition
3.0
An imaginative retelling of a supremely weird period in Eastern European Jewish history (told by a Christian, and touted as "The Great Jewish Novel" - I might not disagree but still very strange). It does seem like an Important Book (tm) and I can see how it won the Nobel (Or Tokarczuk won the Nobel based on the book).
It was so so so very long, and so so so very confusing. I'm unfamiliar with the character set used by the original names. Important characters change names several times and I did not invest in a character guide, which significantly reduced comprehension and understanding.
The author's casual reference to the horrible sins of the patriarchy and the subordination and sexual abuse of women was uncomfortable. The author wisely allows the reader to supply the horror to the oblique references, rather than belaboring the book herself.
It was so so so very long, and so so so very confusing. I'm unfamiliar with the character set used by the original names. Important characters change names several times and I did not invest in a character guide, which significantly reduced comprehension and understanding.
The author's casual reference to the horrible sins of the patriarchy and the subordination and sexual abuse of women was uncomfortable. The author wisely allows the reader to supply the horror to the oblique references, rather than belaboring the book herself.
thalia160's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bhagestedt's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-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
3.5
bpros's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-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
beetlady's review against another edition
The concept of this book was cool, but it could be done in 200 pages. By the time I was 500 pages in, it felt like a chore to read.
lameeya_'s review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Found it a little difficult to get through, but monumental work following the life of an extraordinary figure that gave people hope and despair.
aestuarium's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sarah_dietrich's review against another edition
3.0
Clearly a great book and I loved the first 200 pages. I finished it, but it was a slog at the end. The further through I got, the less it held my attention.
juliakudla's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5