leichamoo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
ohnoits_stacy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
patroclusbro's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
Queer, raw, naughty, and wildly imaginative: "Tentacle" is set between the 1990s and 2030s Dominican Republic. Playing with parallel time travel (hallucinations?), questions of ecological collapse, gender transition, heritage and spirits, colonialism, shame, power and art, this short novel covers a lot of themes.
While I loved the overall undertaking, I did get increasingly lost. The perspectives and timelines change frequently or are told simultaneously, blending. I do enjoy that in general! But I think I would have needed to stay on track more to understand the final resolve. I kept mixing up the characters (doesn't help that they take over each other's names, too).
In general I think this one is worth a second read though! There is a lot to find.
For fans of Fernanda Melchor's "Hurricane Season", Michelle Tea's "Black Wave" and M. Crane's "I keep my exoskeletons to myself".
While I loved the overall undertaking, I did get increasingly lost. The perspectives and timelines change frequently or are told simultaneously, blending. I do enjoy that in general! But I think I would have needed to stay on track more to understand the final resolve. I kept mixing up the characters (doesn't help that they take over each other's names, too).
In general I think this one is worth a second read though! There is a lot to find.
For fans of Fernanda Melchor's "Hurricane Season", Michelle Tea's "Black Wave" and M. Crane's "I keep my exoskeletons to myself".
conoraflynn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
neugrowf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Reality totally bends and distorts with this book! It asks us to experience multiple timelines at once with manic-dreamlike intensity. I am bruised after reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Homophobia, Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, and Rape
full_of_flowers's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
If you appreciate The Tempest, Emily St. John Mandel's Sea of Tranquility, or Philip K. Dick's VALIS trilogy, you may enjoy the shifting and strange structures here. Many interesting thoughts on identity, disaster, and the battle between our agenda and those chosen for us, among other themes.
I was uncomfortable with the book's use of slurs; although this gets some context as the book unfolds, it doesn't feel justified or like it's accomplishing anything. Through such language, it exhibits characters' hateful attitudes without challenging them in a meaningful enough way. Additionally, there are moments that delve into very difficult topics, such as sexual violence and the treatment of marginalized communities, without proper acknowledgement or care. I do wonder if some of these issues read somewhat differently in the original Spanish, and may be interested in reading that version at some point.
I was uncomfortable with the book's use of slurs; although this gets some context as the book unfolds, it doesn't feel justified or like it's accomplishing anything. Through such language, it exhibits characters' hateful attitudes without challenging them in a meaningful enough way. Additionally, there are moments that delve into very difficult topics, such as sexual violence and the treatment of marginalized communities, without proper acknowledgement or care. I do wonder if some of these issues read somewhat differently in the original Spanish, and may be interested in reading that version at some point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Transphobia
halibut's review against another edition
3.0
A broad splatter of interesting sounding ideas, things move at a pretty rapid pace. The writing feels quite hurried, things happen very quickly, and situations and people are summed up in terse but often successful short phrases. The structure of the time travel story is initially disorienting, but I found it clear enough to follow. It felt like ideas or themes are introduced and discarded a little too quickly, the book feels restless.
I just don't really like reading about art or artists much, so didn't get on with the bulk of this once it switched to being about a group of artists.
I just don't really like reading about art or artists much, so didn't get on with the bulk of this once it switched to being about a group of artists.
thebookofdanny's review against another edition
2.0
Yes, very clever.
At first I loved how lightning paced this was, and then I started to lose the plot. Finally, I stopped caring about keeping up.
I'm sure the fact that I had no fucking idea what was going on says more about me than the book, but yeah
Being fucking cray - cray isn't enough, it's a start but it's not enough.
At first I loved how lightning paced this was, and then I started to lose the plot. Finally, I stopped caring about keeping up.
I'm sure the fact that I had no fucking idea what was going on says more about me than the book, but yeah
Being fucking cray - cray isn't enough, it's a start but it's not enough.
caitlin_waddick's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Violence, Sexual violence, Racism, Rape, and Sexism
Great writing Complex plot Fabulous time travel. More to say later when I update the review.funsized327's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.5