alexhaydon's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I don’t recall the last time I read a book with writing so alive. Miller’s writing is incredibly immersive, and atmospheric to a point where my reactions to the setting and story became visceral. No word was wasted. Each character had a deeper story so expertly weighted and placed that by the final chapters, the story’s infrastructure ended in a climax so powerful in image and in meaning. One of the best reads in years, looking forward to more of Miller’s work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Suicide, Racism, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Police brutality
chattie_the_mad_chatter's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
This book is a different genre to what I usually read. It felt like folklore, local history to a country and culture I know nothing about, so I appreciate being able to learn and be let in through reading this.
I enjoyed the story craft, through storytelling and weaving in and out of past and present and through different characters. There is a main plot point that holds them together, but if you enjoy a linear story or a strong connection to a protagonist this may not be for you. I felt that Augstown was our main protagonist and the different characters the layers of history and lives that make it who it is. All the individual human characters felt fully realised, but we moved fluidly through them getting segments of their lives. I am a reader that likes to fully immerse in a character, so I did not get that emotionsl connection I usually want with the characters.
But that was not the story's purpose.
I enjoyed the story craft, through storytelling and weaving in and out of past and present and through different characters. There is a main plot point that holds them together, but if you enjoy a linear story or a strong connection to a protagonist this may not be for you. I felt that Augstown was our main protagonist and the different characters the layers of history and lives that make it who it is. All the individual human characters felt fully realised, but we moved fluidly through them getting segments of their lives. I am a reader that likes to fully immerse in a character, so I did not get that emotionsl connection I usually want with the characters.
But that was not the story's purpose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Death of parent, and Suicide
Moderate: Blood, Classism, Excrement, Drug use, Abortion, Infidelity, Bullying, Sexual content, and Police brutality
Minor: Sexual harassment
znvisser's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Excrement and Mental illness
Minor: Gun violence and Infidelity
Be cautious if you are sensitive to eye-related violence
More...