ththalassocracy's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
maiathemagical's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Winterson's writing is beautiful, she really does have a way with words which makes her writing enjoyable to read, but at the end of the day this book feels poorly thought-out.
There are many interesting themes, but it feels like the author has just chucked them all into a blender without much careful thought about how they link together and develop throughout the play. Other ideas just felt like they shouldn't have been present at all - a character in the book picking up a copy of the book felt like an entirely pointless self-reference that added nothing to the story or themes.
Things that felt interesting, whether characters or themes, were not given enough time to develop, with stories being cut off by the next section of the book seemingly at the worst moments (aside from the Easter Island section, which truly could not end fast enough).
The book's main theme is humanity's tendency to repeat its past mistakes, and that "corporations bad". It feels half-baked, and at the end of the book I felt robbed of the novel I could have read, the novel that I fully believe Winterson could have written, that could have nailed its core themes, developed characters and ideas more, and tied it all together beautifully in a slightly more thought-out cyclical narrative that reinforced its core themes, as Winterson tried and failed to do.
There are many interesting themes, but it feels like the author has just chucked them all into a blender without much careful thought about how they link together and develop throughout the play. Other ideas just felt like they shouldn't have been present at all - a character in the book picking up a copy of the book felt like an entirely pointless self-reference that added nothing to the story or themes.
Things that felt interesting, whether characters or themes, were not given enough time to develop, with stories being cut off by the next section of the book seemingly at the worst moments (aside from the Easter Island section, which truly could not end fast enough).
The book's main theme is humanity's tendency to repeat its past mistakes, and that "corporations bad". It feels half-baked, and at the end of the book I felt robbed of the novel I could have read, the novel that I fully believe Winterson could have written, that could have nailed its core themes, developed characters and ideas more, and tied it all together beautifully in a slightly more thought-out cyclical narrative that reinforced its core themes, as Winterson tried and failed to do.
yelaninihara's review against another edition
3.0
It's morbid as heck, that's for sure. The ending tho, I liked it a lot. Lots of play with linearity. 4/5 for the little ending, the rest was a little hard to get through.
silodear's review against another edition
4.0
4 1/2 stars, for sure. I liked this book a lot. Our world repeating in on itself over and over and over. So true. So good!
desert_mar's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
gabieowleyess's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 stars.
This one was a really interesting read for me. It was split up into three different end of the word scenarios that were all connected to each other in one way or another. I did not understand this at first. I absolutely LOVED the first story. I thought that the whole book was going to be that story and I was super excited about that. However, when it switched to the second story I was SUPER confused. I had to look up a synopsis of the book to completely understand what was happening. Once I got past that, I found myself comparing everything I read to the very beginning of the story. And, unfortunately, none of the other stories were as good as the first one in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, they were interesting, but the first one was just so captivating.
I haven't read a book like this one in a really long time. It was incredibly refreshing to be able to read something that was captivating and adventurous. I'm really glad that I read it. It's the best book I've read so far this summer!
This one was a really interesting read for me. It was split up into three different end of the word scenarios that were all connected to each other in one way or another. I did not understand this at first. I absolutely LOVED the first story. I thought that the whole book was going to be that story and I was super excited about that. However, when it switched to the second story I was SUPER confused. I had to look up a synopsis of the book to completely understand what was happening. Once I got past that, I found myself comparing everything I read to the very beginning of the story. And, unfortunately, none of the other stories were as good as the first one in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, they were interesting, but the first one was just so captivating.
I haven't read a book like this one in a really long time. It was incredibly refreshing to be able to read something that was captivating and adventurous. I'm really glad that I read it. It's the best book I've read so far this summer!
user129380's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
erikaretia's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
gavreads's review against another edition
The Stone Gods is described as an ‘intergalactic love story’ set as man is due to colonise a new blue planet just like ours before we started using more than we put back.
Winterson starts well enough with the tale of Billie who hasn’t been ‘Fixed’, who is getting parking parking tickets even though she has a permit and has been asked to interview the robo sapien, Spike.
And as it progresses this storyline isn’t so bad and is an interesting take on how we might progress. Everything artificial, nothing to do but look young and have sex and be consumers. The problem comes when Winterson leaves this tale and all the fables she weaves into it and moves into parallels.
The other stories lack the initial engagement of the character of Billie and her relationship with Spike even though they are mentioned. And at this point I have a confession to make. I skipped and skim read looking for any threads to cling back on to.
This is the danger when you change the nature of the story. You loose your reader and what tentative links they’ve made. And Winterson lost me.
I’d recommend reading it for the opening novella but without the expectation of understanding or enjoying what follows. If Winterson had played it straight it would have been tighter and stronger and left room to explore sexuality as well as human evolution but I guess each writer tells the tales they want to tell.
Winterson starts well enough with the tale of Billie who hasn’t been ‘Fixed’, who is getting parking parking tickets even though she has a permit and has been asked to interview the robo sapien, Spike.
And as it progresses this storyline isn’t so bad and is an interesting take on how we might progress. Everything artificial, nothing to do but look young and have sex and be consumers. The problem comes when Winterson leaves this tale and all the fables she weaves into it and moves into parallels.
The other stories lack the initial engagement of the character of Billie and her relationship with Spike even though they are mentioned. And at this point I have a confession to make. I skipped and skim read looking for any threads to cling back on to.
This is the danger when you change the nature of the story. You loose your reader and what tentative links they’ve made. And Winterson lost me.
I’d recommend reading it for the opening novella but without the expectation of understanding or enjoying what follows. If Winterson had played it straight it would have been tighter and stronger and left room to explore sexuality as well as human evolution but I guess each writer tells the tales they want to tell.