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wkmiller's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
apol27's review against another edition
5.0
wow. this book just became more powerful with each page. the story seems so easy and innocent to start, then turns so raw and brutal, the characters so real you can feel them.
thestoryowl's review against another edition
4.0
I was very impressed with the depth of the characters and I felt the familial relationships were well treated. A heavy subject matter treated well for teens looking for drama.
esshgee's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars. This has quite a different feel to his other books, although the theme of family discord and violence is still prominent. I like David Vann's writing very much, even though it is incredibly confronting and thought provoking at times. He has a beautiful turn of phrase, and I found the descriptions of the fish in the aquarium just wonderful.
purduerx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jwinchell's review against another edition
4.0
Dark and haunting, redemptive and encouraging--this novel, aquariums, and life in general. As a whole it makes a great case for the ultra extended metaphor, and I think Vann pulls it off with aplomb. I felt worried throughout, and unsure, and very wary of everyone--much as Caitlin did. I appreciated that it was also an extended flashback and that the moments of reflection were woven in authentically. The choice to take out punctuation for dialogue was perfect, then. It is also a beautiful physical book--heavy paper with sheen, color images of fish, and the first letter of each chapter larger and in color.
hlansley's review against another edition
5.0
“Origins... They don’t explain us, you know. They never do. Each of us is our own piece of work.”
Ever since I heard about this book I knew I had to pick it up, and I'm so glad I did, as it has become my favourite book of this year so far! This book really is a stunning piece of work! Not just because of the deep, raw story, but also because of the illustrations of fish, scattered throughout the book. These really lighten the story, as without them I feel you could become stuck in the darker setting of the book. I can't wait to get my hands on another of David Vann's books, as this was the first that I've read by him and to say I'm blown away is an understatement! Aquarium left me with a serious book hangover, and I'm excited to read another of his works. Check out my blog post... https://bookishmisadventures.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/aquarium
Ever since I heard about this book I knew I had to pick it up, and I'm so glad I did, as it has become my favourite book of this year so far! This book really is a stunning piece of work! Not just because of the deep, raw story, but also because of the illustrations of fish, scattered throughout the book. These really lighten the story, as without them I feel you could become stuck in the darker setting of the book. I can't wait to get my hands on another of David Vann's books, as this was the first that I've read by him and to say I'm blown away is an understatement! Aquarium left me with a serious book hangover, and I'm excited to read another of his works. Check out my blog post... https://bookishmisadventures.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/aquarium
suebee135's review against another edition
4.0
David Vann is a master of family dysfunction. Hidden within his beautiful writing lurk some of the cruelest and manipulative characters you will ever meet. His newest novel, AQUARIUM, is no exception. This one, however, allows for some hope which isn’t always the case with Vann.
Twelve year old Caitlin lives with her single mother, Sheri, in Seattle. Sheri is struggling as a single mother, working full time while trying to build a good life for herself and her daughter. Since, according to Sheri, they are all alone in the world, Caitlin is left alone for long periods while Sheri is at work. Caitlin is dropped off at school early in the morning and heads to the local aquarium after to school to wait for her ride home. It is at the aquarium that she meets a very kind elderly man who takes an interest in Caitlin and keeps her company while she waits for Sheri to pick her up. When Sheri learns of this friendship, she is consumed with an uncontrollable rage and her haunted past comes roaring back with a vengeance.
Sometimes there’s just no way to tell how damaged a person really is until they are forced to confront the demons from their past.
Twelve year old Caitlin lives with her single mother, Sheri, in Seattle. Sheri is struggling as a single mother, working full time while trying to build a good life for herself and her daughter. Since, according to Sheri, they are all alone in the world, Caitlin is left alone for long periods while Sheri is at work. Caitlin is dropped off at school early in the morning and heads to the local aquarium after to school to wait for her ride home. It is at the aquarium that she meets a very kind elderly man who takes an interest in Caitlin and keeps her company while she waits for Sheri to pick her up. When Sheri learns of this friendship, she is consumed with an uncontrollable rage and her haunted past comes roaring back with a vengeance.
Sometimes there’s just no way to tell how damaged a person really is until they are forced to confront the demons from their past.
left_wanting's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked the way this story was told and found it super intriguing. I wasn't a fan of the lack of quotation marks so you can know when a person is speaking verses the author telling the story.