eclectictales's review
1.0
I won an ARC of this book via the GoodReads First Reads programme. This review in its entirety was originally posted at eclectictales.com: http://www.eclectictales.com/blog/2015/06/01/review-the-sunken-cathedral/
Unfortunately, I didn’t really feel for the story. The first few pages were disconcerting, but I thought it just took some getting used to, getting a feel of the storytelling and slipping into the lives of these characters. But about a third into the story, I wasn’t feeling for anything at all–the story, the characters, even the setting. Everything about this novel just felt so disconnected. The characters felt remote, between me and them, and even between each other.
There are a few moments of lovely prose here and there and fleeting moments that the characters experience. Unfortunately these touch-and-go moments aren’t really grounded in anything to keep the reader going (in this case, the characters, or even something sembling a plot). I was really expecting something more about this book based on the premise, something more introspective than the vagueness that I read. Maybe other readers will get more out of this novel, but it just didn’t work for me.
Unfortunately, I didn’t really feel for the story. The first few pages were disconcerting, but I thought it just took some getting used to, getting a feel of the storytelling and slipping into the lives of these characters. But about a third into the story, I wasn’t feeling for anything at all–the story, the characters, even the setting. Everything about this novel just felt so disconnected. The characters felt remote, between me and them, and even between each other.
There are a few moments of lovely prose here and there and fleeting moments that the characters experience. Unfortunately these touch-and-go moments aren’t really grounded in anything to keep the reader going (in this case, the characters, or even something sembling a plot). I was really expecting something more about this book based on the premise, something more introspective than the vagueness that I read. Maybe other readers will get more out of this novel, but it just didn’t work for me.
bethnellvaccaro's review
3.0
I am giving this three stars but it may only deserve 2 because I just couldn't bring myself to finish it. I just couldn't get into the upcoming floods that seemed bound to happen. I am concerned that I only have the brain power to read mysteries right now, but something was missing for me in this book.
sophronisba's review
4.0
This is a beautifully written book, but maybe a touch too impressionistic to really work for me. (Or maybe I just identified with Elizabeth a bit too much.) It's a lovely book, but Walbert will probably never top Our Kind for me.
sookie13's review
2.0
I really wanted to like this. The author is very clearly talented and writes some beautiful prose- there are moments where a sentence really grabs at you, which to me is a huge indication of talent and promise, but this book just didn't do it for me. It could have been the editing, or the style of writing. This definitely may have worked better as a collection of short stories, because as a novel it feels barely stitched together. I think because parts of it were so thin, it's why I couldn't connect to any of the characters, or even care about what I was reading about. It was CONFUSING. I've read confusing books before and appreciated them, even liked them, but maybe as I get older I just don't have the patience for a book that isn't more direct with its reader. Kate Walbert is a lovely writer, but she needs to work more on plot construction and character development than her prose. Two stars for the beautiful language.
*I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway from the publisher.*
*I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway from the publisher.*
chocolatelady1957's review
5.0
This novel is stunningly lyrical and limned (to "depict or describe in painting or words" or "suffuse or highlight (something) with a bright color or light") story of storms and life in 21st Century New York. Read my review of this amazing novel here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2015/05/23/literary-impressionism/
8little_paws's review against another edition
5.0
So I really liked this short book. It's not really a traditional novel as in it isn't plot driven whatsoever and the perspective changes from chapter to chapter, with some narrators having only a few pages, this reads more like microfiction about people all living in Chelsea and recognizing that the community they felt they belonged to is disappearing. It's like a series of reflections on the passing of time and the changes of the city and losing that feeling of belonging. There are a lot of footnotes, which go into the character's back stories and personal thoughts and normally I find footnotes annoying but I enjoyed the meandering, winding way the author wrote this, like different veins branching out from one heart. I think she does a lovely job composing sentences that really say a lot with just a few words. Apparently this book wasn't most readers cup of tea, but I feel like this is a book I'd return to.
gerhard's review
4.0
Reading this reminded me just how much my reading tastes have changed over the years. There used to be a time when I would never have considered picking up a book about a disparate cast of characters, including two elderly reminiscing French widows, in New York City against a backdrop of an impending hurricane.
The theme of submergence is echoed by the title, of course, which refers to a piece by Debussy that Kate Walbert describes as “the musical version of Impressionisim.” This is a good indication of her literary technique here, which stitches together past and future events and thoughts in an utterly beguiling fashion. I particularly liked the way that Walbert uses her extensive footnotes as a means of showing her characters in daydreaming or reflective mode.
I did have a couple of quibbles: we do not really need to be told that Jules “loved men, not women.” This is quite implicit in the narrative, and for Walbert to put it so bluntly strikes quite a jarring note. Also, I strongly suspect Walbert simply called a character Poppy just so she could write the line that “Poppy cocks his head.”
These are very minor, and do not detract from the rather wondrous flow of this novel, which carries the reader along its meandering flow. I was reminded of 10:04 by Ben Lerner, which shares a setting and inclement weather with The Sunken Chathedral, but there any resemblance ends.
Perhaps it is just as I have gotten older that I can fully appreciate such a graceful and elliptical book about the ageing process and its impact on one’s self, especially in terms of memory. I wonder what my younger self would have made of such a book?
I doubt all readers will be as enamoured of Kate Walbert’s achievement here as I am, as nothing much happens in terms of plot, which will be frustrating if you go into this expecting a traditional narrative (particularly the denouement).
But that is one of the lasting pleasures of reading (and ageing): To simply enjoy a book just for what it is.
The theme of submergence is echoed by the title, of course, which refers to a piece by Debussy that Kate Walbert describes as “the musical version of Impressionisim.” This is a good indication of her literary technique here, which stitches together past and future events and thoughts in an utterly beguiling fashion. I particularly liked the way that Walbert uses her extensive footnotes as a means of showing her characters in daydreaming or reflective mode.
I did have a couple of quibbles: we do not really need to be told that Jules “loved men, not women.” This is quite implicit in the narrative, and for Walbert to put it so bluntly strikes quite a jarring note. Also, I strongly suspect Walbert simply called a character Poppy just so she could write the line that “Poppy cocks his head.”
These are very minor, and do not detract from the rather wondrous flow of this novel, which carries the reader along its meandering flow. I was reminded of 10:04 by Ben Lerner, which shares a setting and inclement weather with The Sunken Chathedral, but there any resemblance ends.
Perhaps it is just as I have gotten older that I can fully appreciate such a graceful and elliptical book about the ageing process and its impact on one’s self, especially in terms of memory. I wonder what my younger self would have made of such a book?
I doubt all readers will be as enamoured of Kate Walbert’s achievement here as I am, as nothing much happens in terms of plot, which will be frustrating if you go into this expecting a traditional narrative (particularly the denouement).
But that is one of the lasting pleasures of reading (and ageing): To simply enjoy a book just for what it is.
athenalindia's review
4.0
Every book I sit down with I hope I like. While a good snarky review cleanses the palate every once in a while, I would really prefer to read awesome books. And so it was with a great sense of relief that I discovered that the first ARC I'd ever gotten contained a book that I quite enjoyed.
And yet, I'm quite sure it's not for everyone.
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
And yet, I'm quite sure it's not for everyone.
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
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