rhaines46's review against another edition
4.0
Odd bits of observation and speculation. Convincingly like being inside somebody else's head.
franceschs's review against another edition
obsessed with the prose, not obsessed with the heterosexuality.
blub3rry's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
3.75
Cottage core prose with a tongue in cheek vibe. Favourite line: “I really am a relentless little lazy bones”
susanneanette's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
chad_vinny's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
emsemsems's review against another edition
1.0
Found my copy of this, and decided to read it again, but this time I thought it — extremely hard to appreciate/like. To clarify, the first time I read ‘Pond’ was around 7 years ago (but I think I definitely read it around its publication date, so maybe even longer than that). I remember quite enjoying [b:Checkout 19|58386758|Checkout 19|Claire-Louise Bennett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630346616l/58386758._SY75_.jpg|87473457] when I read it last, so I felt inclined to read this again. Bringing this down from 3* to a 1*, unfortunately. Not only do I not like the style of writing, but the narrator was — well simply intolerable. This doesn’t change my opinion about 'Checkout 19', but I guess this book makes me glad that people change? ‘Taste’ in books also change? Obviously I like different styles of writing/literature now. Will not go into the discussion of why this was a disappointment for me (because frankly I think it will be a waste of even more time), but basically nothing in the book resonated with me. Choosing not to rant about it because I don’t think ‘future me’ (if I were to ever click on my review again) would want to be reminded of what a dull experience this was. If anything, I was more interested in my old notes that I had previously made (on my first reading of the text). Did not ‘move’ me; did not even make me ‘mad’ enough, just made me wish I had spent my time reading something else.
bub_9's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately I think I am just not the right reader for this author. The prose is often gorgeous and the extended meditations poetic, but there are so many moments that just felt exceedingly trite and nonsensical. I suppose its ambition is to forge a new form or direction for the novel that is more imaginative and uncertain than the primarily character-based form we have today, but for me that just raises the question: why should I read this novel at all?