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leonardcohenfan69's review against another edition
Just kinda became a chore to read after a while, I had to keep forcing myself but it stopped being worth it to me. The first half or so was pretty good but once it started to focus heavily on the planning for the commune + the main romance became fairly stable (I crave chaos) it started to get too boring for me to keep going since I wasn’t terribly attached to the characters (though I did like Ferris quite a bit) or invested in finding out how they end up dealing with the protagonist’s past. As I kept reading there were still some good moments and overall it’s a well written book but I just lost interest.
maxieb's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
you know the narrator is bad but can’t help rooting for him and his love
kaygo2490's review
4.0
I wanted to give it three stars for pissing me off with its bullshit ending and all around running around in a circle with no release. I wanted to give it three stars for not being a little bit more insane.
Yet, I give it four because of the beautiful writing, the pittyfullness I felt for Jacob and the "demon" that was in him.
Oh, how I felt bad for Jacob. I don't condone his behavior but can't help to think if he was in the 21st century he would be diagnosed and treated.
Yet, I give it four because of the beautiful writing, the pittyfullness I felt for Jacob and the "demon" that was in him.
Oh, how I felt bad for Jacob. I don't condone his behavior but can't help to think if he was in the 21st century he would be diagnosed and treated.
notamy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mirandatamsin's review against another edition
5.0
This book is hideous. The narrator, Jacob, is all kinds of messed up, the main romance is dysfunctional ( there's about 20 pages in the whole 530 page book where I remember both participants being happy), and the ending left me feeling as though my heart had shrivelled up.
Also: I lovedlovedloved it. As Meat Loves Salt is a slow-burn sort of novel, growing on you the more you read. The writing style is beautiful, and the historical detail and accuracy is super-impressive too- but what this story's really about is the CHARACTERISATION.
Oh my god. I honestly don't think I've ever read about characters that felt more real. The main characters especially - Jacob and Ferris - are so fleshy and 3 dimensional, I feel as if I know them like my brothers. I somehow hugely sympathised with both (even knowing how twisted Jacob was, I constantly found myself hoping he'd make the right choices and find good fortune).
I don't really know what else to say, other than that I cannot recommend this book more. As Meat Loves Salt will eat your heart out, and you will thank it. Or maybe you won't- maybe you'll hate it, and throw the book down and stop reading in disgust. That's the reaction I've seen from some reviewers. But, regardless of your opinion of it, this book will at least make you feel some serious emotion... Maybe even enough for you to need it and crave it and love it despite yourself, just as meat loves salt.
Edit 1/1/19 : I've lent this book out at the moment so I can't reread it, but even reading through the couple of quotes I can find on goodreads is enough to make me ache from my core. It's the sort of story that doesn't leave you. I've never read a book so utterly absorbing even after I've finished with it: I feel almost as if Jacob's story is my own past. Wow. I desperately want to reread.
Also: I lovedlovedloved it. As Meat Loves Salt is a slow-burn sort of novel, growing on you the more you read. The writing style is beautiful, and the historical detail and accuracy is super-impressive too- but what this story's really about is the CHARACTERISATION.
Oh my god. I honestly don't think I've ever read about characters that felt more real. The main characters especially - Jacob and Ferris - are so fleshy and 3 dimensional, I feel as if I know them like my brothers. I somehow hugely sympathised with both (even knowing how twisted Jacob was, I constantly found myself hoping he'd make the right choices and find good fortune).
I don't really know what else to say, other than that I cannot recommend this book more. As Meat Loves Salt will eat your heart out, and you will thank it. Or maybe you won't- maybe you'll hate it, and throw the book down and stop reading in disgust. That's the reaction I've seen from some reviewers. But, regardless of your opinion of it, this book will at least make you feel some serious emotion... Maybe even enough for you to need it and crave it and love it despite yourself, just as meat loves salt.
Edit 1/1/19 : I've lent this book out at the moment so I can't reread it, but even reading through the couple of quotes I can find on goodreads is enough to make me ache from my core. It's the sort of story that doesn't leave you. I've never read a book so utterly absorbing even after I've finished with it: I feel almost as if Jacob's story is my own past. Wow. I desperately want to reread.
refrigeratorcool's review
dark
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
3.0
It's a very well researched and detailed book. I just don't have any idea what Maria McCann was gunning for. Jacob never pays for his sins and all we see is Jacob's character descending to madness, but to what purpose? It felt like the book was dark for darkness' own sake. It was static in which Jacob's descent was inevitable and Ferris was a male ingenue and Caro was a perfect victim. Reading this book was flagellating, as if the writer derives some inane pleasure from suffering.
It felt like so many plot lines are left unresolved and the ending felt unfinished. The tonal shifts were also jarring. The civil war seemed like it was setting up a huge plotline in the first half of the story but at the second half they just shrug it off as "time in the army". The part when they started living in the Commons was so boring because they stuffed it with so many descriptions about farming. It's just not a very exciting section, since their romance was established at that point and there were less at stake as well. So little happening other than eating rabbits until the threat came up, and even then they proceeded to farm like usual and just waited for help.
I have multiple gripes about the ending. Despite being marketed as a dark romance focusing on Jacob and Ferris,we have no idea what happened to Ferris in the ending. Jacob never pays for his sins either and travels to New England where he can murder and rape even more. As a book it is not entertaining. One could argue its realism; but I would argue that this book only "dooms" the reader with no worthwhile message to deliver.
It felt like so many plot lines are left unresolved and the ending felt unfinished. The tonal shifts were also jarring. The civil war seemed like it was setting up a huge plotline in the first half of the story but at the second half they just shrug it off as "time in the army". The part when they started living in the Commons was so boring because they stuffed it with so many descriptions about farming. It's just not a very exciting section, since their romance was established at that point and there were less at stake as well. So little happening other than eating rabbits until
I have multiple gripes about the ending. Despite being marketed as a dark romance focusing on Jacob and Ferris,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Toxic relationship
kathrinpassig's review
4.0
Jetzt tut es mir leid, dass ich Daniel Kehlmanns "Tyll" mit der Begründung "Irgendwelchen Gestalten geschehen Dinge in irgendeiner Reihenfolge" nur drei Punkte gegeben habe. Denn hier geschehen auch nur irgendwelchen Gestalten Dinge in irgendeiner Reihenfolge und es ist mir unklar geblieben, was Maria McCann gesagt haben könnte, wenn sie während des Schreibens gefragt wurde, wovon ihr Buch handelt. Trotzdem habe ich jede Seite gern gelesen. Auch wieder eins von den Büchern, von deren Existenz ich 2019 gern gewusst hätte, als das Thema meiner Buchsuche noch "am liebsten so wie Cormack McCarthy, aber von Frauen" war.
chaosofcold's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dwikey's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
velorutionista's review
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0