anneke_b's review against another edition
3.0
I could summarize my review of this book in one sentence: I am so not moving to some desolate fishing village.
Reading this book I was really glad that it was a fast read, because I am not sure if I would have lasted another 100 pages of confused desolation. It was like being able to peek into someone's troubled mind for about 200 pages, which is a feat by itself. Therefore I have to give this book 3 stars.
Reading this book I was really glad that it was a fast read, because I am not sure if I would have lasted another 100 pages of confused desolation. It was like being able to peek into someone's troubled mind for about 200 pages, which is a feat by itself. Therefore I have to give this book 3 stars.
branca's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
helenh1975's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eweindesign's review against another edition
3.0
Dark, spiraling writing. It’s well written, no doubt, I’m just not sure I needed to read this one.
outoftheofficeagain's review against another edition
5.0
#JessAndMorgansBookClub
“The color blue fills the entire mirror and, watching it, I think that is how a small northern town in America works. It enlists one beautiful thing like the ocean or the mountains or the snow to keep people stuck and stagnant and staring out to sea forever.”
Maggie Nelson wrote an introduction for ‘The Seas’ that I would very much like to commandeer… but I could never compose something so perfect, so I’ll implore you to read or listen to it.
For me… there was something so, immediately and painfully, recognizable in this story that I could not help but let it wash over me. In one sitting I listened and followed along with the words on the page, the author taking me through the narrative. Samantha Hunt has written something that you can “understand” without being able to explain. The grounded reality is secondary to the truth, accomplished through metaphor and description, language and emotion.
This is a story of war and loss, of human connection and human disconnection. It explores the meaning of life, and does so in a quiet way. But I would say have you ever been 19, in a small town, longing and alone and very… very sad, you will catch your reflection in these words, just under the surface.
Thank you, Samantha Hunt. You’ve given me something so unexpected and comforting… if not wholly heartbreaking.
“The color blue fills the entire mirror and, watching it, I think that is how a small northern town in America works. It enlists one beautiful thing like the ocean or the mountains or the snow to keep people stuck and stagnant and staring out to sea forever.”
Maggie Nelson wrote an introduction for ‘The Seas’ that I would very much like to commandeer… but I could never compose something so perfect, so I’ll implore you to read or listen to it.
For me… there was something so, immediately and painfully, recognizable in this story that I could not help but let it wash over me. In one sitting I listened and followed along with the words on the page, the author taking me through the narrative. Samantha Hunt has written something that you can “understand” without being able to explain. The grounded reality is secondary to the truth, accomplished through metaphor and description, language and emotion.
This is a story of war and loss, of human connection and human disconnection. It explores the meaning of life, and does so in a quiet way. But I would say have you ever been 19, in a small town, longing and alone and very… very sad, you will catch your reflection in these words, just under the surface.
Thank you, Samantha Hunt. You’ve given me something so unexpected and comforting… if not wholly heartbreaking.
mayah212's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
I loved this book, especially how it made me feel. this is one of these books that puts you under a spell, am I reading? am I dreaming? I am sure it will be one of my favorite books of 2023 and would love to read more from Samantha Hunt's work.
samstebbins's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
jannyslibrary's review against another edition
5.0
I think she’s a mermaid.
“Blow the Man Down” setting + beautiful writing
“Blow the Man Down” setting + beautiful writing