laura_darroch's review against another edition
5.0
Decadent and haunting. I could almost feel Kohler's words sinking needle-like into my mind, where they will be staying for a very long time.
daniellemarie96's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely a slower read. A lot of the plot is kept until the last 20 pages or so.
lemonade137's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
2.0
There are some aspects of the writing that make this book seem very naive: first, there is the use of rhyming couplets at the beginning of sections to summarise events that have occurred or will occur. Second, the author doesn't divide the into chapters, instead she begins sections of two or three pages with a question or statement, such as "What We Said to Fiamma" or "Miss G's story", which tell us what will happen in the section. Both of these seem clumsy, the first seems like something a beginning writer would think was clever, and should be gently talked out of by a friend or writer's group, and the second makes the novel seem like it's trying to model itself on a textbook or case-study, but this falls completely flat.
Ignoring these unfortunate devices, some of the prose is really successful. Descriptions of the girls' intimate friendships, the heat and intensity of their lives in a wild countryside, and the image of swimming in the cool water under the African sun, are all beautiful. I read this having seen the film, and I disagree with some other reviews that suggest this book is worse than the film: some aspects are not as strong, but others are stronger. I think the book gives us a better portrait of the individual girls, and of Fiamma, the unlucky girl whose demise shadows the book. I also think Fiamma's ending is more interesting and more complexly explored.
However, the character of Mrs G doesn't get as much space in the book as she is allowed in the film, and her actions seem more flat, and it's harder to understand why the girls find her so compelling and why they are so willing to excuse her actions. I found that the book felt unbalanced: some moments the writing was clear and compelling and I was interested in the characters, and other times it felt like a rough sketch. This feels like a book that could have used a lot of editing, but at the same time, I found a lot of things to enjoy.
Ignoring these unfortunate devices, some of the prose is really successful. Descriptions of the girls' intimate friendships, the heat and intensity of their lives in a wild countryside, and the image of swimming in the cool water under the African sun, are all beautiful. I read this having seen the film, and I disagree with some other reviews that suggest this book is worse than the film: some aspects are not as strong, but others are stronger. I think the book gives us a better portrait of the individual girls, and of Fiamma, the unlucky girl whose demise shadows the book. I also think Fiamma's ending is more interesting and more complexly explored.
However, the character of Mrs G doesn't get as much space in the book as she is allowed in the film, and her actions seem more flat, and it's harder to understand why the girls find her so compelling and why they are so willing to excuse her actions. I found that the book felt unbalanced: some moments the writing was clear and compelling and I was interested in the characters, and other times it felt like a rough sketch. This feels like a book that could have used a lot of editing, but at the same time, I found a lot of things to enjoy.
beautyistruth's review against another edition
2.0
Lightly written but strange as heck (which may be how it's most interesting for me) and I really, really wanted to have some background or psychological depth given for the teacher Miss G. in it. It feels like a children's book or fairy-tale but with homoerotic adult themes. Tries unsuccessfully to be like Golding's Lord of the Flies but is too shallow or lacks the necessary dark force and build up to pull that off.
bella_donna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Child death
Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Deportation, and Fatphobia
marie_trbrg's review against another edition
3.5
miss g should be locked in prison for a very long time
juliwi's review against another edition
4.0
There seems to be an unspoken rule amongst readers that you should always try to read a book before you see the film, to the point where you miss out on seeing a film in the cinema because you haven't finished the book yet. But what happens when you see a great film and then realise it was based on a book? Quite often what happens is magic! Something you enjoyed has more to give because a book always has more. That's what happened with me and Cracks.
On her website Sheila Kohler writes that after her sister's violent death in Apartheid South-Africa, she wanted to explore 'the reasons for violence within intimate relationships, in particular, the abuse of power and privilege' through writing. In Cracks she does exactly that, showing the reader how power dynamics establish themselves, how they change, get manipulated, and never truly die. Teenage girls provide endlessly interesting material to authors because we are so involved with each other and ourselves. There is a fascination which we as a society have with the strange mix between power and vulnerability, sexuality and innocence, and desire to be loved and anger at everything which signifies teenage girls in fiction. To what extent it is representative of actual teenage girls is different question but also a wrong one because it feels true. The cloying closeness of teenagers finds its best expression in boarding school narratives, where teenagers are removed from society and only have themselves.
If you liked the film I can't necessarily say you will like the novel, but Kohler's Cracks is an absolutely stunning novel! It is enticing and fascinating, both abhorrent and beautiful. I'd recommend it to fans of Psychological Thrillers and Mystery.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/review-cracks-by-sheila-kohler.html
On her website Sheila Kohler writes that after her sister's violent death in Apartheid South-Africa, she wanted to explore 'the reasons for violence within intimate relationships, in particular, the abuse of power and privilege' through writing. In Cracks she does exactly that, showing the reader how power dynamics establish themselves, how they change, get manipulated, and never truly die. Teenage girls provide endlessly interesting material to authors because we are so involved with each other and ourselves. There is a fascination which we as a society have with the strange mix between power and vulnerability, sexuality and innocence, and desire to be loved and anger at everything which signifies teenage girls in fiction. To what extent it is representative of actual teenage girls is different question but also a wrong one because it feels true. The cloying closeness of teenagers finds its best expression in boarding school narratives, where teenagers are removed from society and only have themselves.
If you liked the film I can't necessarily say you will like the novel, but Kohler's Cracks is an absolutely stunning novel! It is enticing and fascinating, both abhorrent and beautiful. I'd recommend it to fans of Psychological Thrillers and Mystery.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/review-cracks-by-sheila-kohler.html
tiffyboomboom's review against another edition
4.0
I think this book had some interesting elements I hadn't really seen before in a book. Also the details were really good.
The only down point was some of how the structure of the book was made up but it wasn't too distracting overall.
The only down point was some of how the structure of the book was made up but it wasn't too distracting overall.
_kairhone_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Rape