Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Snowflake

Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Snowflake by Louise Nealon

16 reviews

marymoth's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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jmyers1's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I'm not sure I enjoyed this book nor did I think it met the expectations set from the reviews and reccomendations I was given. Its possible that I didn't quite get it? I wasn't sure what the plot was, and there seemed to be so many issues raised and not fully fleshed out. I didn't find anyone particularly likeable.

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starbeans's review against another edition

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2.5

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nick_3's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A coming of age for multiple characters, at various stages of life, effected by different circumstances. A surprising read - you think you're reading one thing and it shifts perspective or focus but in a way that gives you a bigger picture whilst throwing you off guard at times. A page Turner without being totally dramatic.

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james1star's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Press and Bonnier UK Audio for providing me with an audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really am getting a sense that a lot of contemporary Irish literature falls under the ‘literary fiction’ genre and this is the case for Snowflake too. I do prefer other examples but this was certainly a good book and one I’d recommend.

We follow the main character Debbie via a first person POV as she recently turns eighteen and will be starting university in Dublin. She talks of her life living and working on her family’s dairy farm with her uncle Billy who lives in a caravan in the garden, mum Maeve who suffers from psychosis-like episodes, deteriorating mental health and an obsession with dreams, and James the local farmhand and Maeve’s younger lover. Things do happen and there are other characters - the other main one being a friend Debbie meets called Xanthi who’s a Dubliner - but it’s less of a plot-focused story like others in this genre. Most of what actually happened was okay but I did question a few parts and there were a couple loose ends as it were too. The character analysis/development, human interactions and messages are what Nealon places an emphasis on. This is primarily the case in the discussions on mental illness, depression and the views people take with a lot of nuance. Many of the attitudes towards those suffering and seeking of help via counselling or therapy aren’t the best but there’s a lot of growth. A major part is how the healthcare systems in place aren’t working at their best due to the strains, slowness and highlighting the need for money to get good/quick treatment but some parts narrative-wise fitted together a bit too well where in reality it likely wouldn’t have. Other topics touched on include alcoholism, class/urban-rural differences, animal rights (sort of ~ I personally wasn’t the most keen on these parts, despite showing different sides of the debate I felt vegans (what I am) was the more negatively portrayed and the animal abuse/gore parts were hard to read at times), self-esteem, suicidal thoughts/attempt, everyday misogyny and sexual harassment and a few others. Whilst some were discussed well I do feel that a bit more rounding was needed. They were good and I saw where Nealon was taking us, how the messages the reader was supposed to take fit the narrative and moved us on. It was a very decent debut and I would like to check out more of her work where her writing is likely to mature. Nealon’s natural wit and humour was great to read, it’s never forced and easy to follow. The talks on literature were a bit to be desired and wished there were more but were enjoyable.

Something that I didn’t really like was the character of Griffin whom she met at university. He’s a long-term friend of Xanthi, a gay man, but wasn’t written as very nice. There was some nuance and a realness at times but he’s portrayed as rather bitchy, sexually focused and there’s a pushing of this notion he’s uncomfortable in his sexuality. This leads to questions over his true intentions in regards to his friendship with Xanthi and how there’s likely this internal homophobia or ‘queer shame’ hovering over his actions. It wasn’t nothing that bad and I (as a gay man) wasn’t personally offended, it’s just something I picked up on and it’s a shame where such details or portrayal wasn’t really necessary. Furthering this is how he’s the only queer character in the book where a contemporary Dublin surely has more. All the characters are likely white Irish as well so I sensed some diversity was lacking.

I would recommend listening to this as an audiobook and the narrator Louisa Harland speaks very clearly and has a soothing Irish accent. This is great at bringing the characters to life with the ‘right’ accent reinforcing this.

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elllav's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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lydiavsbooks's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A very reflective, raw look into the life of our main character in rural Ireland as she balances her complex family life while starting university and trying to form new connections.

The writing was compulsive but very matter of fact in a slightly humorous way that reminded me a little of Sally Rooney's writing mixed with elements of Naoise Dolan and the complex family dynamics of Unsettled Ground, but unique enough for me to hesitate to compare them.

I really enjoyed our main character, very sympathetic but not always likeable, as with all the characters. My only criticism really is that the ending felt a little abrupt, although tbf I did really enjoy the ending itself.

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