Scan barcode
laurenguydan's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
mythicpages's review against another edition
4.25
this was one of the weirdest things I've ever read. go read it now.
jenlengland's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Violence
bridrizzle72's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
emkatsteen's review
3.5
Ultimately, the flow of the narrative was so cryptic at times that I was frustrated. I don’t think the book would have suffered by being a bit clearer right from the get-go. I did really enjoy the end, but it’s a pity that it was so convoluted at the beginning. I was so confused by the setting. I just did not understand how people actually functioned in Garbagetown. Like her house being made of wax and then also her door being burned every night? How does that work?
What about the law? Who was the arbiter of that? Why did she obey?
What about the law? Who was the arbiter of that? Why did she obey?
fellinafucci's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jesslb429's review
4.0
In talking about The Past is Red, I have to first talk about Valente’s afterword. In it, she details that she wanted this post-apocalypse not to look back on our “world” as something beautiful but as the mess we are. And I find that in this to be a great strength. Also I find a lot to relate to when it comes to the sentiment. In our current world, both during and before the pandemic, there was this idea that the world how is used to be was perfect. It is what we want everything to be again. But, as with the world of Garbagetown, the past is gone. While the overall story of Tetley paints a picture about a world post climate change catastrophe that we ourselves brought on, it also rings to true to those who cling to what was and refuse to embrace what we have. We can waste all of our resources on grasping at the ghost of the past or we can keep ourselves alive and focus on now. We learn from that past but move on. Maybe I got the wrong message from Valente’s novella. I felt a lot of things reading it, even if it was a short read. That is the mark of something well done.
clpaton's review
5.0
Ripped my heart out.
So clever and endearing and heartbreaking.
So clever and endearing and heartbreaking.
“Very well, you shall be the Thames and I shall be the Mississippi and together we shall eat up the whole world.”