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laynie_rearick's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.75
jmutrickster's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
specimenstoriesjr's review against another edition
5.0
Precious little sparkling diamond of a novel, multifaceted in scope and subject. I was dazzled. Themes of siblinghood and loss and storytelling, woven with delicious prose through such disparate subject matter as ammonites, AIDS, and Hansel and Gretel. Loved it.
loui's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Not a perfect book, but an expansive one.
Dense, fragmented, sometimes hard to follow and to understand, but so rich in themes and life.
Reading it between the end of a year and the start of another one set the tone for what and how I want to read now: the lost stories, the hidden stories, those that imagine new possible worlds, definitely more stories about siblings.
I’m so glad I’ve finally read it and I’m sure I’ll return to it again and again.
Also! It’s been years since I’ve ugly cried for a book, and this one delivered.
Dense, fragmented, sometimes hard to follow and to understand, but so rich in themes and life.
Reading it between the end of a year and the start of another one set the tone for what and how I want to read now: the lost stories, the hidden stories, those that imagine new possible worlds, definitely more stories about siblings.
I’m so glad I’ve finally read it and I’m sure I’ll return to it again and again.
Also! It’s been years since I’ve ugly cried for a book, and this one delivered.
amebco's review
reflective
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
4.25
ulexic's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
1e5eratte's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.5
deathmetalheron's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This is an excellent book that wasn't written for me. There are a lot of really interesting concepts at play here. It's written in nonlinear order, with all timelines being marked by the arrival in Earth's orbit of Halley's Comet. This framing device is just really profound and interesting way to write multiversal stuff. The concept itself is electrifying enough to propel you through reading it. The second major framing device is the story of Hansel & Gretel, which is related to us in multiple ways--first as the actual story taking place in the 14th century, then as the brothers Grimm hear the tale in the 19th century, and a few times in allegorical form in the future. The additional added context is reimagining the story as a tale against parental abuse--that Hansel is potentially gay, and his mother and father send him away for this reason.
My issues with this book are that there are a lot references to breadcrumbs contained throughout the story (a la Hansel and Gretel), the insistence of their existence is a little tedious. The middle of this book is a big slog, with a lot of setup for the ending quarter of the story. The ending is definitely worth it but I was not so high in the middle of this story. There is a lot of setup chapters where we sort of wait for details to be fleshed out. Due to this it's hard to recommend as an overall excellent book but there is certainly payoff. I went to sleep on this much harsher on it, and woke up with a more positive overall take.
My issues with this book are that there are a lot references to breadcrumbs contained throughout the story (a la Hansel and Gretel), the insistence of their existence is a little tedious. The middle of this book is a big slog, with a lot of setup for the ending quarter of the story. The ending is definitely worth it but I was not so high in the middle of this story. There is a lot of setup chapters where we sort of wait for details to be fleshed out. Due to this it's hard to recommend as an overall excellent book but there is certainly payoff. I went to sleep on this much harsher on it, and woke up with a more positive overall take.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Death, Terminal illness, and Outing
gayabetic's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
yeonhajun's review against another edition
3.0
It is easy to forget, but stories need not always have a purpose. We are quick to say that folktales have a moral or a lesson or a creed. But most of the stories that have survived the ages are told for one purpose only, and the purpose is to say this: “Being human is difficult. Here is some evidence.”
this is a short speculative piece that catalogues all the different voices that have contributed to the evolution of hansel and gretel’s story and the different ways this story has been told over the course of the years, from 1378-2365 and the Halley’s Comet is there for some reason. it is a study of queer love, siblinghood and storytelling and what it means to be human. this isn’t usually the type of stuff i read but the writing was beautiful and emotional, and worth a read.
this is a short speculative piece that catalogues all the different voices that have contributed to the evolution of hansel and gretel’s story and the different ways this story has been told over the course of the years, from 1378-2365 and the Halley’s Comet is there for some reason. it is a study of queer love, siblinghood and storytelling and what it means to be human. this isn’t usually the type of stuff i read but the writing was beautiful and emotional, and worth a read.