The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
messypeasofmind's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
abbenway's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
There was a constant overlapping and interweaving of stories from across the generations, which fit perfectly with the descriptions of time happening all at once in Lima. Though this made it challenging to read at times, it created a stunningly atmospheric tone. A beautiful read for fans of Ishiguro or The Night Circus - lyrical, "vibe" based magical realism.
gengray47's review against another edition
3.0
3.5āļø? I think? I have no idea where to even start with this book ... but what a debut!
How deliciously strange and odd. Magical realism, in an extreme sense. Think the casita from Encanto but like.. evil.. but also good..?
Not the most likeable main character. Like, at all. There was something a little missing, but I can look past it. An incredible first book from the author and I can't wait to see what else she comes up with. This book was insane honestly.
"This was when Santa Julia understood that in Lima time is like a fog that permeates everything. Any moment, past or yet to come, can descend as a mist and mingle with the air of the present so that all is humid with the vapours of time. It clings to the hair, penetrates the bones, moistens the clothes of the citizens, leaving everything always a little damp. The limeƱos breathe it daily, creeping down from the mountains or rolling in from the sea ā lost time. The city is steeped in it, moistened by it, dragged down into it and, simultaneously, borne forth upon its crest."
How deliciously strange and odd. Magical realism, in an extreme sense. Think the casita from Encanto but like.. evil.. but also good..?
Not the most likeable main character. Like, at all. There was something a little missing, but I can look past it. An incredible first book from the author and I can't wait to see what else she comes up with. This book was insane honestly.
"This was when Santa Julia understood that in Lima time is like a fog that permeates everything. Any moment, past or yet to come, can descend as a mist and mingle with the air of the present so that all is humid with the vapours of time. It clings to the hair, penetrates the bones, moistens the clothes of the citizens, leaving everything always a little damp. The limeƱos breathe it daily, creeping down from the mountains or rolling in from the sea ā lost time. The city is steeped in it, moistened by it, dragged down into it and, simultaneously, borne forth upon its crest."
elenasquareeyes's review against another edition
2.0
The Dust Never Settles has two different narratives and timelines that eventually converge into one. The chapters alternate from AnaĆÆsā life in the present, to various moments in the history of the āyellow houseā and the people who are connected to it many generations ago. Itās an interesting way to tell this story and as more is revealed about the past and how different people are connected, sometimes in the smallest ways, it makes what AnaĆÆs is experiencing in the present more grounded. Because AnaĆÆs isnāt sure what sheās experiencing ā and to be honest, neither did I a lot of the time. AnaĆÆs is seeing ghosts, the world around her keeps changing, and as time goes on itās clear she never really dealt with her grief of losing her mother. Thereās also the fact that because AnaĆÆs left Lima so long ago, being back she starts to feel like sheās been denying herself her heritage and culture. While her white British fiancĆ© sees her as an expert in all things Peruvian, AnaĆÆs soon realises that the locals see her as a tourist and donāt recognise that she is really one of them.Ā
I really liked the vibes of The Dust Never Settles but after a while the actual story started to be a bit of a slog. The vibes are immaculate with the magical realism and the uncertainty of whatās supernatural or whatās not. Thereās also the āyellow houseā itself which is a really vivid setting and one of the aspects of the story I liked the most. Itās a house that has seen a lot, good and bad, and itās like a living tomb of AnaĆÆsā relatives who have all either left the house or died.Ā
The Dust Never Settlesā story meanders quite a lot. The writing style wonāt be for everyone and it often seemed to drift from one idea or metaphor to another. While AnaĆÆs appears to be slowly losing her grip on reality, you then have chapters set in the 1500s, following a character that seems completely random but then half a dozen chapters later you see how that characterās descendants then met someoneās relatives who is connected to the Echevarria or is the ancestor to a side character weāve met in the present. Some may love this kind of storytelling, but after a while I just found that I didnāt really care.Ā
Thatās also how I felt about AnaĆÆs after a while ā especially in regards to her relationship with her fiancĆ©. He didnāt seem like a nice bloke and I was often left wondering if she ended up with him because it was convenient and whether she loved him at all.Ā
Overall, I found the first half of The Dust Never Settles interesting because of the vibes, the house, and how different it was to anything Iād read recently. But then, the latter half of the book started to drag for me as I didnāt feel like the characters had much of an arc and it was the same vibes and repetitive plot of seeing things in the past and then seeing how they were connected to the present. I think The Dust Never Settles is an ambitious novel, but it isnāt one that really worked for me in the end.Ā
aqrio's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
siobhanfuller's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Excellent writing - some of the best Iāve read in years - but should have been 100 pages shorter
camila_caminioca's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
tetedump's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, Torture, War, Murder, Violence, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Suicide, Colonisation, and Death