Reviews

What will be the first great novel to come out of the pandemic? I don't think this is quite there, but it's a fine effort and Sarah Hall creates a vivid portrait of an artist whose world comes apart during a pandemic that is very similar to the one we're living through.

lqueijo's review against another edition

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3.0

Tinha prometido a mim mesmo que não leria nada que fosse relacionado com a pandemia, a não ser que fosse devidamente justificado - o caso das narrativas pós-apocalípticas, que muitas vezes assentam nessa premissa mas cujo “andamento” foge quase sempre à lamechice do quão coitadinhos fomos por termos tido que suportar semelhante provação. Resolvi quebrar a promessa com este Burncoat de Sarah Hall, sendo, também, a minha estreia com a autora.
Ainda que a autora tenha uma escrita cativante (e sem pudores, neste caso), Burncoat é um livro morno que vale, essencialmente, pela toada nostálgica de certas passagens. É, acima de tudo, um livro acerca de perda e reconciliação não importa em que circunstâncias. E é um livro que mostra, claramente, um dos efeitos do prolongado confinamento - a visualização de conteúdos pornográficos que inspirou, a autora a escrever umas passagens mais “ousadas” que o habitual na literatura, em especial no feminino.
Lê-se, certo que dentro do tema deve haver muito melhor…

lumenmews's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective 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? No

4.75

mt_gilley's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I've just read this for the second time and it's really made clear for me just how exceptional a book it is - feverish, thrilling. It's full of poetic insight into love, art, death, illness, lust, but without ever seeming forced. The structure invites all these comparisons between the different relationships - first love, motherhood, serious illness - but then the book confounds them. There's something very natural and honest about that - while there's a burning passion and intensity and will to all the bits of the story, it's also keenly attuned to the specifities of individuals and circumstances, to different moments of existence.

imo_s's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

unfortunatecircus's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional 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

oh this was so beautiful and so sad! I personally wish there was less sex in it (we get it, you fuck! ok!!) but it was a stunning little novel all around. lots of trigger warnings, but no rape or animal cruelty!

janinagnes's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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