renegadecosmos's review against another edition
challenging
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
1.5
itsgiuliabtw's review against another edition
4.0
i’m speechless. a mesmerising read. i have a feeling this book and its words will be stuck in my head for months and months.
tmquam's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
patroclusbro's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.75
“I say the same thing to you: I don’t know if I am or am not Amparo Dávila,” she continued. “But her name reminds me of something from beyond memory.”
I closed my eyes to better listen to her.
"It comes from before. A mineral world, without a doubt. A vegetal world. It comes from the ocean, don’t you see? From a day filled with sun. From a phrase.” She lowered thevolume of her voice. “He’s going to kill himself,” she whispered.
I saw the twilight from the other end of my retinas, in some hidden chamber within my brain. I heard the phrase, and its echo. He’s going to kill himself. A strange sweetness pervaded my body."
A lyrical, short novel filled with eerie, quiet, suffocating horror.
A story about all the different types of disappearance, heartbreak, desire, the sea - and loss of identity, reality, consciousness. A main character who gets increasingly disoriented and the women who surround him (or her?). Inevitability and leaping emotions.
Something for fans of Shani Mootoo's "Polar Vortex", Sándor Márai's "Embers" and Alia Trabucco Zarán's "The Remainder".
I closed my eyes to better listen to her.
"It comes from before. A mineral world, without a doubt. A vegetal world. It comes from the ocean, don’t you see? From a day filled with sun. From a phrase.” She lowered thevolume of her voice. “He’s going to kill himself,” she whispered.
I saw the twilight from the other end of my retinas, in some hidden chamber within my brain. I heard the phrase, and its echo. He’s going to kill himself. A strange sweetness pervaded my body."
A lyrical, short novel filled with eerie, quiet, suffocating horror.
A story about all the different types of disappearance, heartbreak, desire, the sea - and loss of identity, reality, consciousness. A main character who gets increasingly disoriented and the women who surround him (or her?). Inevitability and leaping emotions.
Something for fans of Shani Mootoo's "Polar Vortex", Sándor Márai's "Embers" and Alia Trabucco Zarán's "The Remainder".
kncody's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? No
leila's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
4.0
To put it simply I know I will never read anything like this again. It’s a slightly difficult read but I think it would be a disservice to not challenge myself.
If you aren’t at all familiar with Amparo Dávila‘s work, definitely read the translator’s note. Some parts of the book were a treat in that respect :) and even if you are, still read the translator’s note imo, it was very illuminating for me
If you aren’t at all familiar with Amparo Dávila‘s work, definitely read the translator’s note. Some parts of the book were a treat in that respect :) and even if you are, still read the translator’s note imo, it was very illuminating for me
rosielazar1's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bookishcapricorn's review against another edition
I am simply not smart enough for this book. I have been reading it for 2 weeks and I am just at a loss.
This is an exploration of gender binaries as well as other binaries that language and creates. However, I was just lost in the random things that were happening seemingly nonsensically. I just do not have the academic prowess necessary for comprehending what this book was trying to do.
This is an exploration of gender binaries as well as other binaries that language and creates. However, I was just lost in the random things that were happening seemingly nonsensically. I just do not have the academic prowess necessary for comprehending what this book was trying to do.