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ryanboros's review against another edition
4.0
Hermione at Durmstrang U
Fear is a great motivator
Break you down to build you up
This is a deeply strange book. I got the impressions of [b:The Magicians|6101718|The Magicians (The Magicians, #1)|Lev Grossman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1313772941l/6101718._SY75_.jpg|6278977], but essentially the Antarctic isolation semester at Brakebills South for as a whole book. As a readers, I felt I was mirroring Sasha's struggles. Much like she was having trouble understanding what was going on, and what she needed to learn, so did I. It was hard to read at times, but I think worth the struggle to push through. A remarkable job by the translator in getting this unusual story into English because this book is very Russian and almost psychedelic. If you want something unlike anything you've read, check it out.
Fear is a great motivator
Break you down to build you up
This is a deeply strange book. I got the impressions of [b:The Magicians|6101718|The Magicians (The Magicians, #1)|Lev Grossman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1313772941l/6101718._SY75_.jpg|6278977], but essentially the Antarctic isolation semester at Brakebills South for as a whole book. As a readers, I felt I was mirroring Sasha's struggles. Much like she was having trouble understanding what was going on, and what she needed to learn, so did I. It was hard to read at times, but I think worth the struggle to push through. A remarkable job by the translator in getting this unusual story into English because this book is very Russian and almost psychedelic. If you want something unlike anything you've read, check it out.
ambernm88's review against another edition
5.0
4-5
Despite the slow moving plot, I found myself completely immersed in this strange and compelling book. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. I appreciate a book that can grab a hold of my mind like this. While it might not be for everyone, I loved it.
Despite the slow moving plot, I found myself completely immersed in this strange and compelling book. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. I appreciate a book that can grab a hold of my mind like this. While it might not be for everyone, I loved it.
renoui's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 I liked the atmosphere but the whole Word and Speech system was described in a very convoluted way and it reeked outdated 90s poststructuralism and Neoplatonism. If something cannot be explained within the narrative and the onus to make sense is transferred to the reader, then this narrative has failed. The concept was somewhat original but the plot and the golden Mary Sue protagonist were as contrived as ever.
juushika's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. A young woman is compelled to attend an unlikely college. This engages the magical school trope in fascinating, infuriating ways. The questionable pedagogy of Hogwarts pale against the noncommunication, emotional manipulation, and unhealthy environment of obsessive study presented here, and it becomes a conversation about magic systems and narrative construction:
Magical concepts have to be comprehensible to the reader in order to render a satisfying plot, but if they're too comprehensible the sense that the magic is unknowable, evocative, magical is lost. Moreover, what can be communicated to the reader presumably could be communicated to the protagonist in advance. So the magic is partially depicted through ambiguating literary references--but is it sufficiently unknowable? Could it have been explained? Do whatever limitations of communication which do exist justify the treatment the protagonist receives? Are the unhealthy study habits necessary to the magical process, or do they only engage our fantasies of higher education? Why is fear the only effective motivator, and is this reliance on abuse insufficiently interrogated by characters, or by narrative, or both? Magic and pedagogy become synonymous in form and in their flaws, and the way the reader engages the constructed narrative parallels the way the protagonist engages that magical system and school.
So it's a great book to argue with, and that argument makes for active, absorbing reading--despite the deceptive lack of structure that results from the bad communication and unknowable magics; despite the slow pacing of study, exams, and social drama.
Magical concepts have to be comprehensible to the reader in order to render a satisfying plot, but if they're too comprehensible the sense that the magic is unknowable, evocative, magical is lost. Moreover, what can be communicated to the reader presumably could be communicated to the protagonist in advance. So the magic is partially depicted through ambiguating literary references--but is it sufficiently unknowable? Could it have been explained? Do whatever limitations of communication which do exist justify the treatment the protagonist receives? Are the unhealthy study habits necessary to the magical process, or do they only engage our fantasies of higher education? Why is fear the only effective motivator, and is this reliance on abuse insufficiently interrogated by characters, or by narrative, or both? Magic and pedagogy become synonymous in form and in their flaws, and the way the reader engages the constructed narrative parallels the way the protagonist engages that magical system and school.
So it's a great book to argue with, and that argument makes for active, absorbing reading--despite the deceptive lack of structure that results from the bad communication and unknowable magics; despite the slow pacing of study, exams, and social drama.
attabeyrodz's review against another edition
4.0
I would say this book is a like an abstract painting. Confusing, hard to follow, but it's definetly a painting and nice to look at. Until you read the little blurb on what the painter wanted to express and then you go "Ah ha, now I get it!!
I enjoyed most of it, but will definetly need some time to process what the hell just happened lol
I enjoyed most of it, but will definetly need some time to process what the hell just happened lol
katiedids's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
It’s a weird dark academia book.
kathleenschwab's review against another edition
5.0
I was riveted to my chair by this book. It is also very hard to describe. To begin, I'll say that the original is in Russian, and it did read like a translation - words kept jumping out as not quite right. I don't think there were better words to be chosen, I just think English doesn't adequately convey the flavor of post-Soviet life going on in this book. So right off the bat things felt a bit off-kilter, and that suited the story perfectly.
This is about a teenage girl who goes to a secret and magical school, and I would describe it as: Harry Potter grows up, loses all trace of adorableness & whimsy, and discovers that defeating Voltemort was child's play and now comes the real challenge. Or, take Harry Potter, add an insane academic workload, sheer terror, and a shot of heroin.
Thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
This is about a teenage girl who goes to a secret and magical school, and I would describe it as: Harry Potter grows up, loses all trace of adorableness & whimsy, and discovers that defeating Voltemort was child's play and now comes the real challenge. Or, take Harry Potter, add an insane academic workload, sheer terror, and a shot of heroin.
Thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
gellyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
amdoyle89's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it I think. The further I got into it the further I had no idea what was happening and nothing made any sense whatsoever but I liked it but also what the heck?
aajinnah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
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