emilyhan0906's review against another edition
2.0
The inconsequential first world problems that dragged on and on in this book versus everything else happening in that world that could’ve been interesting or important but was minimized - is this asymmetry intended?
cheye13's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very interesting story from a meta-fiction point of view. I knew the "twist" ahead of time and I think that helped me in the reading experience: Even with that, I feel like I need a reread to fully comprehend the stories' relation to each other.
That being said, I would have liked the stories to have just a bit more overlap, more elements in common. I'm also not sure what purpose part three serves aside from connecting the other two; its quite a long narrative conceit, if that's its only intention.
Spoiler
in part three, Ezra Blazer implies that section two was a work of fiction written by Alice.That being said, I would have liked the stories to have just a bit more overlap, more elements in common. I'm also not sure what purpose part three serves aside from connecting the other two; its quite a long narrative conceit, if that's its only intention.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia, War, Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, and Sexual content
Minor: Genocide, Racism, Classism, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
tomhill's review against another edition
4.0
Two equally engaging and very well-written stories, but I was kind of at a loss for how the two are related. Maybe it went right over my head. I've read some professional reviews that seem to make connections between the two that I didn't quite see. It's all in the title, I guess. A very enjoyable read nonetheless.
nick_jenkins's review against another edition
5.0
One of the many intertexts in Asymmetry is Le rouge et le noir, which contains a famous comparison between the novel and a "mirror in the roadway." Often invoked to justify fiction that reflects grim or unappealing aspects of life, Stendhal's point was also to redirect such criticism back at the conditions themselves rather than the writer's right or purpose in depicting them. <> "His mirror shows the mud, and you accuse the mirror! Rather accuse the highway where the puddle sits, or better yet the road inspector who let the water pool and the muck form."
Halliday, however, points out that it is still the novelist that is holding the mirror, and still is in control of where it points. That is a position of power, and the novel sensitively questions how much power the novelist has. Ezra Blazer--the Philip Roth-like novelist--insists upon the difficulties and constraints of writing fiction, particularly realist fiction: for him, it seems to be full of concessions and deviations from what one had intended to write. Once embarked, the novel permits only intermittent steering; it largely finds its own current in which to run.
The author's greatest power lies in choosing what to write about: that is the closest that she comes to total authority and freedom. Halliday slyly proves this point by writing both about an experience very near to her and one completely alien to her. She accomplishes both feats so naturally, so authoritatively that the distinction between the two melts away. The novel becomes a tool not so much for creating empathy or for capturing "realistic" accounts of a specific place and time, but for creating, full stop.
Halliday, however, points out that it is still the novelist that is holding the mirror, and still is in control of where it points. That is a position of power, and the novel sensitively questions how much power the novelist has. Ezra Blazer--the Philip Roth-like novelist--insists upon the difficulties and constraints of writing fiction, particularly realist fiction: for him, it seems to be full of concessions and deviations from what one had intended to write. Once embarked, the novel permits only intermittent steering; it largely finds its own current in which to run.
The author's greatest power lies in choosing what to write about: that is the closest that she comes to total authority and freedom. Halliday slyly proves this point by writing both about an experience very near to her and one completely alien to her. She accomplishes both feats so naturally, so authoritatively that the distinction between the two melts away. The novel becomes a tool not so much for creating empathy or for capturing "realistic" accounts of a specific place and time, but for creating, full stop.
waxingquixotic's review against another edition
3.0
Look, I had a pretty decent time spending a few days of my life reading this book. The first chapter or section titled “Folly” was a little outside of my comfort zone, but it kept me engaged and there were some pretty brilliant pieces of writing weaved within its pages. There is an abrupt, intentional turn in the next section, “Madness”, that feels like a different writer jumped in with a different story to tell, and...
Then, there is a short third section that kind of puts the asymmetry of the novel back into some sort of symmetry and connects a dot or two, almost like David Mitchell in a sense, but a little more meta and...
Ultimately, I think the book was just on another level that I wasn’t really ready to be on here at the end of the year. Right now I’m eating a bunch of junk food and not running or working so trying to think too hard and trying to be smart and stuff just isn’t happening for me. I completely understand what the author was trying to do, and I think she broke some ground on writing a very unique book that pushes the limits of what a novel can be, I really do think that. I just think my little holiday brain wasn’t clicking on all cylinders enough to truly understand and appreciate the literary uniqueness and asymmetrically whateverness of the plot.
I’ll tell you what this book did do for me though, in case you’re down here reading along and you’re curious. It made me realize that there are really great books out there that I’ve missed this year. Every year I get myself al caught up in a particular genre or a reading slump or something and I miss some of the wonderful books that win awards and tell great stories. Now, I want to read everything I’ve missed. I’ve added a lot of literary fiction to my shelves in hopes of spending 2019 reading some really fantastic literature. I want to be challenged and entertained. I want to think outside the box, read things I normally would shy away from, and read more critically. I want to read differently next year. I want to do things differently. I want to push myself further. I want to focus on quality and not quantity of books read in a year. I want to raise the bar and read new authors. I want to read more books written by people that don’t look like me. That’s how I want to spend 2019.
I want to go on a new journey and chronicle my adventures in new ways. I want to put my phone down and read more physical books without the internet too close to my fingertips. I want to make the next year count. I want it to matter. I want to feel good about it when it’s over. I want to shake things up and...
Then, there is a short third section that kind of puts the asymmetry of the novel back into some sort of symmetry and connects a dot or two, almost like David Mitchell in a sense, but a little more meta and...
Ultimately, I think the book was just on another level that I wasn’t really ready to be on here at the end of the year. Right now I’m eating a bunch of junk food and not running or working so trying to think too hard and trying to be smart and stuff just isn’t happening for me. I completely understand what the author was trying to do, and I think she broke some ground on writing a very unique book that pushes the limits of what a novel can be, I really do think that. I just think my little holiday brain wasn’t clicking on all cylinders enough to truly understand and appreciate the literary uniqueness and asymmetrically whateverness of the plot.
I’ll tell you what this book did do for me though, in case you’re down here reading along and you’re curious. It made me realize that there are really great books out there that I’ve missed this year. Every year I get myself al caught up in a particular genre or a reading slump or something and I miss some of the wonderful books that win awards and tell great stories. Now, I want to read everything I’ve missed. I’ve added a lot of literary fiction to my shelves in hopes of spending 2019 reading some really fantastic literature. I want to be challenged and entertained. I want to think outside the box, read things I normally would shy away from, and read more critically. I want to read differently next year. I want to do things differently. I want to push myself further. I want to focus on quality and not quantity of books read in a year. I want to raise the bar and read new authors. I want to read more books written by people that don’t look like me. That’s how I want to spend 2019.
I want to go on a new journey and chronicle my adventures in new ways. I want to put my phone down and read more physical books without the internet too close to my fingertips. I want to make the next year count. I want it to matter. I want to feel good about it when it’s over. I want to shake things up and...
kelleydoesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-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
4.25
fatfrog's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
tense
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Racism, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Abortion, Incest, War, and Antisemitism
Minor: Kidnapping and Genocide
rltinha's review against another edition
4.0
Aos fãs do Roth dá generosa centena de páginas sob a perspectiva "dela". Da jovem que proporciona ao geronte a experiência carnal e a ilusão emocional da virilidade pretérita durante um presente de decadência física.
Contrapõe, em assimetria, uma outra realidade que, sendo absolutamente diversa, tem uma miríade de pontos de contacto com a primeira, sendo a detecção deles um jogo que vicia o bom leitor.
Remata com uma entrevista ficcionada que volta a encher as medidas aos que se rendam à primeira parte.
A observação mais pertinente que vi/li sobre este livro foi aquela que o cstaloga como um primeiro romance que parece ter sido escrito por um romancista já veterano num exercício de galhardia em que simulasse escrever um primeiro romance. Halliday, talvez graças às prováveis dez mil horas a ler e adular a leitura, consegue esse feito e produz um romance inequivocamente bom.
Contrapõe, em assimetria, uma outra realidade que, sendo absolutamente diversa, tem uma miríade de pontos de contacto com a primeira, sendo a detecção deles um jogo que vicia o bom leitor.
Remata com uma entrevista ficcionada que volta a encher as medidas aos que se rendam à primeira parte.
A observação mais pertinente que vi/li sobre este livro foi aquela que o cstaloga como um primeiro romance que parece ter sido escrito por um romancista já veterano num exercício de galhardia em que simulasse escrever um primeiro romance. Halliday, talvez graças às prováveis dez mil horas a ler e adular a leitura, consegue esse feito e produz um romance inequivocamente bom.
sittingwishingreading's review against another edition
reflective
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
2.5