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znvisser's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
This book managed to utterly intrigue and completely bore me at the same time. The narrator (or dare I say author?) uses fiction to explore some interesting ideas about the loss of memory and time, but it takes its time doing so. Well into the first part I was desperately starting to wonder if it was going to lead us somewhere, hoping the other four parts would be different, but unfortunately, insufficiently so. I loved the premise of this book but sadly most of this stays in the 'ideas' realm; the main character lacks any character and while history and philosophy are applied in an interesting way, the plot isn't rich enough to keep me in it either. Very dry. Not unhappy to have read this, but definitely happy it's done.
Graphic: War and Dementia
Moderate: Violence
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
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
4.25
What to say about Time Shelter, winner of this years International Booker Prize, that hasn’t already been said? For me it wasn’t a story to sink into. Plot and character are not the main focus. Rather it is a book about ideas - especially time and memory at both the personal and national levels. What started as a story about a new way of helping people with Alzheimers - rooms replicating different historical eras so people could be immersed in whichever era they felt safest and most comfortable in - changed into a book dealing with European history, nationalism, patriotism, and the problems with nostalgia, with looking back to the past with rose-tinted glasses, particularly at a national and societal level. What might be good for dementia patients is anything but for society as a whole. At times I didn’t feel clever enough to read it, and I know I would discover more if I were to reread it.
It’s a book with plenty of layers and real depth, rich with intellectual meat and philosophical musings, and very timely given Brexit, MAGA and the like. A very worthy Booker winner.
Graphic: War and Dementia
abisnail564's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
3.5
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Violence and War
ritsuka's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Książka napisana przepięknym językiem, ubogacona licznymi odniesieniami do literatury światowej. Bardzo wciągająca, tajemnicza, momentami smutna; skłaniająca do refleksji.
Trochę przydługie opisy polityczne.
Ukłony dla tłumaczki.
Trochę przydługie opisy polityczne.
Ukłony dla tłumaczki.
Graphic: War
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