Reviews

Pew by Catherine Lacey

ifeanart's review against another edition

reflective 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? N/A

3.25

stellax's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A pretty short story concerning the response to the question "who or what are you?". I liked all the characters and the eerie vibes of the southern "hospitality" of the town. It's food for thought, it didn't wrap up nicely but I think that was the point. The comments about racism, xenophobia and white privilege were pretty good and fit right into the story. I will be thinking about Pew a lot.

lazyboysunday's review against another edition

4.0

A great read. It’s philosophical and poetic. A book about projection and the need for perfection in society. I like Lacey’s writing style it’s easy to read and still keeps me entertained.

jaclyncrupi's review against another edition

4.0

This was an incredibly clever rumination on projection, ‘good’ intentions and what happens when who we think we are collides with our true selves. Wildly exciting writing and thinking from Catherine Lacey.

madeleiner's review

challenging emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

flexmcnutly's review against another edition

4.0

Strange and compelling. I really loved the style of this and I think I wouldn’t have minded the confusion of the ending if there hadn’t been so much build up. I didn’t need anything dramatic or definitive, but it felt like I’d been cut off where there should have been a few more pages.

Quotes I saved:

‘What a terror a body must live through. It’s a wonder there are people at all.’
- Pew // Catherine Lacey

‘But what about when you lose someone who is still alive? When you lose track of the person you know within a person they’ve become - what kind of grief is that?’
- Pew // Catherine Lacey

lollypopzoo's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

3.5

Thought-provoking but a bit clumsy in execution. There were a few really good surprise moments but the book didn’t end on a strong enough note to make this excellent. 

runlaurarun's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

s_evan's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

glossy's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I didin't expect it to be from the Pew's perspective but this choice made it so much more interesting. This was such a good premise and Lacey executed it perfectly. It will make you question things.