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nreyno's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Racism, Torture, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Trafficking, War, and Deportation
withlivjones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I have two main issues with the book. The first is that I didn’t really understand the character of Florence, although perhaps she’s not meant to be understood. Her powers of invisibility as explained in the book made sense to a point, but past that she seemed overpowered in a way that made everything very convenient for the other characters. The second issue is that the book just doesn’t feel seasonal enough. The “present day” portion of the story happens in October, which isn’t even in Spring! Something I really loved about Winter was that the bleakness of the writing perfectly matched the tone of the season, and the fact that the main story takes place over Christmas helps with that too, and I just didn’t get that same feeling in this book.
I still love Ali Smith’s writing, and she told a very important story in this book, but I’m hoping the rest of the series will improve from this instalment.
Graphic: Xenophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Deportation
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Sexism
maggiefae's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Confinement and Racism
Moderate: Suicide attempt
sketchydelusion's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Excrement
Minor: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, and War
itsbumley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, Classism, and Deportation
deedireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
TL;DR REVIEW:
Spring is my favorite of Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet so far. It’s a deeply felt novel with smart, resonant social commentary.
For you if: You love characters that feel real enough to break your heart.
FULL REVIEW:
I’m currently reading Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet in order, season by season (with @caseys_chapters!). I’ve liked them all, but I think Spring is my favorite so far.
This one focuses on two main characters: Richard, an older man who was once a moderately successful film director, mourning the loss of his closest friend; and Brit, a corrections officer for the quartet’s fictional security company (which is also involved with border security). Richard has decided there’s nothing left for him, and Brit finds herself traveling with a remarkable young schoolgirl named Florence.
I think this one felt a little less abstract in terms of how it related to the season it’s named for, which helped. It sang with positioning of spring against the idea of borders and migration and the kind of impossible, barely-there hope that always exists despite the brokenness of the world. It might also be that the social commentary felt a little fresher (since the book is newer); I was particularly struck by Brit and the momentum that keeps her from opening her eyes, much less taking action.
But even considered on its own, the power of Ali Smith’s prose is (as always) somehow unnameable but also unmistakeable, and the characters broke my heart. This was deeply felt and effective, and I can’t wait to read Summer.
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Confinement
crazytourists_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Again, I loved the writing style, the artistic references (consistent in all three books), the sweetness that's lingering in the pages, and Smith's effort to address brexit and the worl wide humanitarian/migration crisis. But there were a few holes in the story, which I am sure were deliberate but left me unsure, wondering, and some surreal descriptions that I didn't particularly enjoyed.
Now I wait, till summer comes!
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
soupy_twist's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Racism and Suicide attempt
amelreads's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Confinement, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual assault and Torture
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Moderate: Rape and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer