ncghammo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
steffi_r's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
4.0
Seltsam verstörende miteinander verbundene Kurzgeschichten über Menschen, die alle irgendwie einsam sind, sich nach Zugehörigkeit und Verbundenheit sehnen aber durch ihre Ängste Süchte und Ticks daran gehindert werden. Als Leser sieht man ihnen wie ein Voyeur beim Scheitern zu. Kein schönes Gefühl!
sabrinames's review
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
hannah_marie97's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
oscar_wnr's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
mccordian's review
5.0
Nine stories that take place in the same bookiverse and point the magnifying glasses to voyeurism. It all starts with a woman listening in on her neighbors’ party so closely that she winds up stuck inside the shared wall of their duplex. One character winds up in the fifth room (yours) of a four-bedroom apartment (his), therefore “missing” in the world of the bookiverse. Background folks make repeat appearances, altered in each to fit how they’re viewed by the “main” characters. All just parts of the visible anthill, yet this deceptive minikin could easily overwhelm an above-moderate yard [insert mischievous mwahaha.].
coady's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
dylankakoulli's review against another edition
4.0
If this was a report card, it would most definitely say “exceeded expectations”.
Seriously, this was a real “turn up for the books” kinda, well, book.
Okay okay, I’ll quit it with the literary wordplay (for now at least).
A Shock is a uniquely structured novella, that weaves the lives (and stories) of a disparate, desperate, alienated, addicted and lonely community living in the heart of London -or south London, to be more precise (woop woop) !!
Though each chapter stands alone, the constant shifting of; voices, timelines and perspective -especially when the reader is addressed directly, slowly builds an eerie intensity that echos throughout the novel.
Blurring the boundaries between the real and surreal, Ridgway exposes our deepest and innermost thoughts, feelings, fears and flaws.
An unsettling, ambiguous -and comedically dark at times, read indeed.
4 stars
Seriously, this was a real “turn up for the books” kinda, well, book.
Okay okay, I’ll quit it with the literary wordplay (for now at least).
A Shock is a uniquely structured novella, that weaves the lives (and stories) of a disparate, desperate, alienated, addicted and lonely community living in the heart of London -or south London, to be more precise (woop woop) !!
Though each chapter stands alone, the constant shifting of; voices, timelines and perspective -especially when the reader is addressed directly, slowly builds an eerie intensity that echos throughout the novel.
Blurring the boundaries between the real and surreal, Ridgway exposes our deepest and innermost thoughts, feelings, fears and flaws.
An unsettling, ambiguous -and comedically dark at times, read indeed.
4 stars
crabbit40's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5