elainehasdogs's review against another edition
3.0
not my cup of tea. Too violent with rape and animal cruelty. The story is good but too much cruelty. I suppose that's part of the time the author is trying to portray.
lucasgarner's review against another edition
5.0
Not since American Psycho have I been so repulsed by a novel. Every page of each novel drips with nihilism, and doesn’t shy away from brutal imagery with no hope in sight. Luckily for The North Water, I love this kind of sick shit and American Psycho is one of my all-time favorite novels. As much as my mind tells me I should hate this book for being so vile, I couldn’t get enough of it. Even with this novel is going for the jugular, it still contains gorgeous writing, and a plot filled with morality clauses for any reader to ponder over. Just great, great stuff. I highly recommend this novel to anyone, just as long as you don’t mind some extreme trigger worthy material.
bibliomaniac33's review against another edition
4.0
Great page turner. Others have written far more detailed and amazing reviews than I am capable of.
So, I'll just say this is The Revenant meets The Terror, giving you the best of both worlds. Bring a dictionary too. McGuire pulled out words you just don't run across every day! Loved it.
So, I'll just say this is The Revenant meets The Terror, giving you the best of both worlds. Bring a dictionary too. McGuire pulled out words you just don't run across every day! Loved it.
aaronmjnoy's review against another edition
2.0
Gory and disgusting for the sake of it. None of the characters were very sympathetic so it took the jeopardy out of the story, which was just interesting enough to keep reading. Might work better in the upcoming BBC TV show if they flesh out the characters.
biscofflover02's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
grommit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Hectic, crass and violent. Excellent narrative arc
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Excrement, Murder, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
bookishwendy's review against another edition
3.0
This is not a humorous book *at all*, and yet I found myself laughing anyway, mostly in disbelief at just how far into *gritty* it is willing to go. If there is a way to fit some *visceral* description of bodily fluids into a scene, the author will find a way. If I, reading along, started to get "redshirt anxiety" about any character or animal...they were probably gonna get it with all the dignity of a slasher movie before the scene was over.
The North Water is a gripping book. The characters are all shades of terrible human beings, but don't let that stop you. The tone pushes past grim realism to something I had trouble taking seriously, but I supposed that's part of the charm. I even considered making a new Goodreads shelf for "manly masculine men" reads but honestly, I don't feel like drawing attention to that particular literary quirk.
Oh wait, this was a Booker Prize longlist nominee? (okay I'm laughing again)
The North Water is a gripping book. The characters are all shades of terrible human beings, but don't let that stop you. The tone pushes past grim realism to something I had trouble taking seriously, but I supposed that's part of the charm. I even considered making a new Goodreads shelf for "manly masculine men" reads but honestly, I don't feel like drawing attention to that particular literary quirk.
Oh wait, this was a Booker Prize longlist nominee? (okay I'm laughing again)
debigo's review against another edition
3.0
Meh
Good book. Fairly interesting but Somewhat predictable. I didn’t really like the ending because it is given away in the foreshadowing.
Good book. Fairly interesting but Somewhat predictable. I didn’t really like the ending because it is given away in the foreshadowing.
jpc33's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
elm's review against another edition
5.0
[EDIT] I'm now upgrading the rating to 5 stars. I originally only gave the book 4 stars because it took me awhile to become invested in the characters and the plot (though in hindsight that may have been because I was reluctant to read this book, so probably didn't enter into the book with the best mindset...). It was the only reason I hesitated over giving it a 5 star rating, but since finishing I've been unable to stop thinking about it: the characters, the plot, just the general mood of the book didn't leave me for days. Truthfully, since the very last word I've been lowkey itching to reread it! A book that can stay with me as much as this one has is definitely worthy of a 5 star rating!
Well.. that was truly horrific...
I think I should create a new bookshelf, call it 'not for the faint-hearted', and place this book right at the VERY TOP BECAUSE HOLY SHIT!!!!!! That was by far the most gruesome book I have ever read. I didn't think it was possible for a book to almost make me throw up but, hey, now I know that it is indeed possible!!! Very very (unfortunately) possible. wow...
Well.. that was truly horrific...
I think I should create a new bookshelf, call it 'not for the faint-hearted', and place this book right at the VERY TOP BECAUSE HOLY SHIT!!!!!! That was by far the most gruesome book I have ever read. I didn't think it was possible for a book to almost make me throw up but, hey, now I know that it is indeed possible!!! Very very (unfortunately) possible. wow...