sunshin_lemonade's review against another edition
5.0
Praise:
- This was an exceptional book in all aspects, plot, characterisation, philosophical framework, and the message it aimed to convey to the reader
- Van Booy has created a delicately woven story whose every aspect/element has been considered thoughtfully and connected back to the central story and to the underlying philosophical framework of the novel.
- The array of characters introduced throughout the story was exciting, and beautifully done by Van Booy, in which readers feel that they intimately know each character (no matter the size of their role in the novel)
- The connections between each of the characters were carefully planned, and I was shocked and excited at each point when a new connection between characters was created - with the revelation of the final connection, I was in awe of Van Booy's meticulous planning and the beautiful framework of the novel
- The writing was lyrical, flowing beautifully between descriptions of the characters' memories, imagination and present lives. Van Booy is able to effectively communicate the emotions that all of us feel regarding grief, love and memory in a relatable and simple manner.
Criticism:
- Not all of the characters were fully fleshed out as others, with characters at times simply being introduced for the sake of creating a connection to another character. I wish that Van Booy had taken the time to flesh out each character equally and not make their central purpose to simply create a connection later on in the story but to actually add depth to the novel.
- Some of the writing was choppy, with Van Booy jumping from discussing a character's life or memories to suddenly inserting [a disconnected] quotable line. I feel that the transition from his prose to his 'quotable lines' should have been seamless.
- This was an exceptional book in all aspects, plot, characterisation, philosophical framework, and the message it aimed to convey to the reader
- Van Booy has created a delicately woven story whose every aspect/element has been considered thoughtfully and connected back to the central story and to the underlying philosophical framework of the novel.
- The array of characters introduced throughout the story was exciting, and beautifully done by Van Booy, in which readers feel that they intimately know each character (no matter the size of their role in the novel)
- The connections between each of the characters were carefully planned, and I was shocked and excited at each point when a new connection between characters was created - with the revelation of the final connection, I was in awe of Van Booy's meticulous planning and the beautiful framework of the novel
- The writing was lyrical, flowing beautifully between descriptions of the characters' memories, imagination and present lives. Van Booy is able to effectively communicate the emotions that all of us feel regarding grief, love and memory in a relatable and simple manner.
Criticism:
- Not all of the characters were fully fleshed out as others, with characters at times simply being introduced for the sake of creating a connection to another character. I wish that Van Booy had taken the time to flesh out each character equally and not make their central purpose to simply create a connection later on in the story but to actually add depth to the novel.
- Some of the writing was choppy, with Van Booy jumping from discussing a character's life or memories to suddenly inserting [a disconnected] quotable line. I feel that the transition from his prose to his 'quotable lines' should have been seamless.
lucy_qhuay's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
What a wonderful surprise!
I picked this book up, not knowing the author or anything about its plot, expecting only a mildly pleasant, quick read, but I got so much more.
'The Illusion Of Separateness' is a beautiful, deeply lyrical, thought-provoking story about loneliness and how being alone doesn't equal being lonely.
We may be alone, feel apart from everything and everyone else, but we always have something that works as our guiding light and which strengthens us when we feel we are going to fall.
Memories. Small acts of mercy. Generosity. Bravery. Unconditional love.
All of this inevitably links us to a multitude of people, even in ways we cannot see and will never know about. But it's there. It's real. We're not just another dot in the immense universe.
Definitely a must read and an author to watch out for.
findyourgoldenhour's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this beautiful little book so much! It's one of those books that has beautiful and poignant passages that you want to underline and then just sit and think about for a while (but alas I borrowed the book from the library, so I couldn't underline it). I rarely actually re-read books, but I definitely want to read this again.
rastaainbooks1's review against another edition
3.0
کتاب وهم جدایی از سایمون‌ون بوی از انتشارات هیرمند:
این اولین کتابی بود که از این نویسنده می‌خوندم. فضای داستان و پرش‌های زمانی بین جنگ جهانی دوم و زمان حال رو که توسط راوی‌های‌مختلفی روایت می‌شدن رو دوست داشتم. اوایل داستان بخاطر تعدد شخصیت‌ها و پرش‌های زمانی و مکانی کمی گیج‌کننده بود ولی به نیمه‌های کتاب که رسید کم‌کم میشد متوجه ارتباط افراد داستان شد، ارتباطی که در سایه‌ی اتفاقات ناخواسته‌ای که برای هر فرد رخ داده شکل می‌گیره و نهایتا زندگی تمام این آدمارو بهم پیوند میده و باعث میشه کتاب رو با رضایت تموم کنید. از لحاظ احساسی کتاب فوق‌العاده تاثیرگذاری بود و روایت داستان و شخصیت‌پردازی‌ها طوری بود که غم عمیق و درد درونی هر فرد رو بشه با تمام وجود حس‌کرد.
این اولین کتابی بود که از این نویسنده می‌خوندم. فضای داستان و پرش‌های زمانی بین جنگ جهانی دوم و زمان حال رو که توسط راوی‌های‌مختلفی روایت می‌شدن رو دوست داشتم. اوایل داستان بخاطر تعدد شخصیت‌ها و پرش‌های زمانی و مکانی کمی گیج‌کننده بود ولی به نیمه‌های کتاب که رسید کم‌کم میشد متوجه ارتباط افراد داستان شد، ارتباطی که در سایه‌ی اتفاقات ناخواسته‌ای که برای هر فرد رخ داده شکل می‌گیره و نهایتا زندگی تمام این آدمارو بهم پیوند میده و باعث میشه کتاب رو با رضایت تموم کنید. از لحاظ احساسی کتاب فوق‌العاده تاثیرگذاری بود و روایت داستان و شخصیت‌پردازی‌ها طوری بود که غم عمیق و درد درونی هر فرد رو بشه با تمام وجود حس‌کرد.
laurenpedersen's review against another edition
4.0
Simple and almost poetic. The wisps of these lives twist together like steam and then float away like fog.
redroofcolleen's review against another edition
3.0
A lovely story of humanity made less so by the telegram-style telling.
debbiecuddy's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a lovely book-one that I will read again.
stitch_please's review against another edition
3.0
fast read. It was an okay, not amazing but there were a few paragraphs that had some great moments.
artzi94's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0