hongjoongie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
amandaegle's review against another edition
2.0
It pains me to say this cause I loved 2 AM at the Cats Pajamas so so much. But this one just didn’t do it for me. I might not have been in the right head space for it. I'll probably give it a second go in the future.
madisoy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
i’ve been wanting to read this for a while after stumbling upon it on goodreads a year or two ago, but i feel like i never hear any hype about it. and i’m wondering why because parakeet is a treat! a little bizarre, quite comedic, and perfectly tender when it needs to be. this magical realism book begins the week of the unnamed bride’s wedding, when she is visited by her grandmother in the form of a parakeet and tasked with tracking down her estranged brother. from there things get weird (i won’t spoil in what ways).
i will say that sometimes it just felt like a few too many things were happening, but overall i loved this. i chuckled regularly, had my heart feel like it was pushing at it’s seams a few times, and truly did not know where this book would take me next. my ideal style of writing to read. it was also a great meditation/commentary on the institution of marriage, familial and sibling relationships, generational trauma, the ever-changing nature of friendships, and recovering from/transforming as a result of trauma of various kinds. i don’t know why everyone wasn’t talking about this book when it was first released (or did i just miss it somehow?). this is a lil happy/sad, messy girl masterpiece. 4.5 stars!
i will say that sometimes it just felt like a few too many things were happening, but overall i loved this. i chuckled regularly, had my heart feel like it was pushing at it’s seams a few times, and truly did not know where this book would take me next. my ideal style of writing to read. it was also a great meditation/commentary on the institution of marriage, familial and sibling relationships, generational trauma, the ever-changing nature of friendships, and recovering from/transforming as a result of trauma of various kinds. i don’t know why everyone wasn’t talking about this book when it was first released (or did i just miss it somehow?). this is a lil happy/sad, messy girl masterpiece. 4.5 stars!
queerandweird's review against another edition
3.0
I went through a mini roller coaster during this book, deciding whether I liked it or not. I settled on that I did about halfway through in the discovery of the Bertino's wondrous descriptive capacity and mesmerizing use of language. Good trans depiction and whole character design; intersting interactions between women, very fun and weird. She did have me yelling "stop fucking complaining at service people Karen!" a few times because the main character drags people into distressing situations around her instead of solving problems herself or just being honest sooner. Might not jump at reading more of the author's work but wouldn't say never again.
elizabethaf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
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
2.75
reshipping's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
emsandford's review against another edition
5.0
I won this in a giveaway years ago and only just read it because it got lost in my grandmother's house during the pandemic! It is perfect and the timing of losing it, finding it, reading it have been strangely perfect too. I don't know how Marie-Helene Bertino did that part but I really think she did.
kiramke's review against another edition
5.0
I like this book. The story-telling, the slippy reality, the viewpoint and thoughtfulness.
bachaboska's review against another edition
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
3.0
lrlong11's review against another edition
4.0
A strange and wonderful book that likely won't make sense to many. It's "about" a wedding, but really about everything else besides a wedding. This book will make you ponder your own life and question the meaning of the smallest interactions. You'll be looking for signs everywhere, wondering if that one is your grandma or not. Read this book a few times, let your mind mull it over.