Reviews

Lo Que Te Pertenece/ What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell

izzyfizzywizzy's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

cestelaine's review against another edition

4.0

Addictive narration & observations of a country rarely written about, Greenwell’s debut novel is a heady venture it the trickery that surrounds desire, loneliness, self-hood & the complicated stories we often tell ourselves in attempts to reconcile our past and present selves.

With an incredible command of prose, I found this a mesmerising read.

geoffry's review against another edition

4.0

Ook al ben ik er nog nooit geweest, voelt Bulgarije mij enorm vertrouwd aan na dit boek. Greenwell is enorm goed in sfeerschepping en weet eveneens hoe hij een onconventionele relatie tussen hoer en klant (cru gesteld) moet aanpakken zonder in clichés te vervallen.

the_literarylinguist's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

calebgrahamlibrary's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

3.25

sorthe's review against another edition

challenging dark

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

3.5

renilr's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

dilfpercyshelley's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

what a beautifully written novel. a great way to start my readings for class this year.

i love an unlikable protagonist. especially when the author allows them to be as complex as this nameless character. furthermore the sadness ingrained in almost everything about this story captivated me. mitko, as a character, was wonderful. ever changing and ever interesting, his presence not only had a complex life of its own, but allowed the author to develop the protagonist in his reactions and relationship to mitko. 

occasionally, the function of mitko as a device to reveal the true nature of the protagonist irritated me. i didn’t much care for the protagonist, and i felt rather the opposite of the intended way: i wished to know more of mitko than of the protagonist. it was frustrating to see mitko through only the eyes of the entitled american protagonist, rather than the raw complexity of such a captivating character. 

all in all, this was a truly a beautiful and complex read. perfect for people, like myself, who love all character no plot. and equally perfect to use as a reflection on socio-political issues of contemporary western society.

constantine2020's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-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

3.5

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½

Genre: Contemporary Fiction + LGBTQ

What Belongs to You is a debut novel by Garth Greenwell. The author delves into the concepts of yearning, identity, isolation, and the complexity of human connection during the course of the book, which is structured in three parts.

The nameless American narrator, a young English teacher who is now residing in Sofia, Bulgaria, is presented to the reader in the opening portion of the story. He meets Mitko, a young hustler from Bulgaria, and the two of them have a relationship that is both confusing and emotional. Although the narrator pays Mitko for sexual sessions, the nature of their relationship extends well beyond that of a simple business transaction. The main character's feelings and vulnerabilities are brought into the open as the two men become more intertwined, and he starts to question his own ambitions and intentions as a result of this.

The second part of the book is more about the narrator's background, exploring topics such as his childhood, his troubled connection with his family, and his prior encounters with feelings of shame and desire. These recollections illuminate his current state of emotional and sexual yearning by providing context and background information.

After an extended period, the narrator examines his past interactions with Mitko in the last part of the story. Mitko's condition has become even more precarious, and the pair's reuniting is laden with uncertainty and stress. The power dynamics and intricacies of their connection are explored throughout the story.

I believe that the author has done an excellent job both with the story and the writing, especially considering that this is their first work. He provided the readers with a huge opportunity to explore the narrator's mind in great depth in order to gain an understanding of the narrator's mental state and his motivations. The narrative itself touches on several significant topics, like love, loneliness, and coming into one's own. On the other hand, having completed it has left me with a feeling of sorrow. It has a mood that one may describe as being quite melancholy. Therefore, you need to be in the appropriate frame of mind when reading it. 

hefestx's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective fast-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? Yes

4.5