azu_rikka's review
4.0
Fast paced story of an unhinged woman who is shockingly yet understandibly relatable.
rosekk's review against another edition
4.0
I was hesitant at first, since there is a recommendation from the Daily Mail on the front cover. The book only cost £1 though, and sounded interesting, so I picked it up anyway. I'm glad -it was actually really funny, and absolutely mad but quite thought inducing - I say inducing, and not provoking, because it hasn't raised any ideas I didn't already have, but it brought them back to the forefront of my mind. It is the sort of book I haven't encountered before, and would like to see more of. Funny surreal rebellions could form a genre I could get very into.
souljaleonn's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
sawyerbell's review
4.0
When the narrator's placid, materialistic, suburban life is shattered by her husband trading her in for a new and improved model, she throws her habitual caution to the wind and answers an ad: widow seeks companion for help around the farm.
She arrives expecting a bucolic farm holiday spent with a sweet old lady in a cardigan only to find out the widow is a 6 foot tall, fiery red-headed warrior goddess with revolution on her mind. The widow warrior doesn't believe in government, state education, private property, processed food or--worst of all--indoor plumbing.
This modern day Robin Hood story grabbed me on the first page, had me laughing by the second and hanging on for a wild ride all the way through. Kavenna's writing is fresh, energetic and bitingly funny; it's easy to see why she was on Granta's list of 20 best young writers. Yet underneath the satire, the author raises some interesting questions about the ever-increasing gap between rich and poor. Highly recommended for lovers of dark humour.
She arrives expecting a bucolic farm holiday spent with a sweet old lady in a cardigan only to find out the widow is a 6 foot tall, fiery red-headed warrior goddess with revolution on her mind. The widow warrior doesn't believe in government, state education, private property, processed food or--worst of all--indoor plumbing.
This modern day Robin Hood story grabbed me on the first page, had me laughing by the second and hanging on for a wild ride all the way through. Kavenna's writing is fresh, energetic and bitingly funny; it's easy to see why she was on Granta's list of 20 best young writers. Yet underneath the satire, the author raises some interesting questions about the ever-increasing gap between rich and poor. Highly recommended for lovers of dark humour.
careless's review
3.0
Pleasantly insane.
A small cast of characters you sort of want to punch in the face but at the same time, you don't want anything really bad to happen to them. Mostly. You know the type.
Quite evocative of the grim, damp terror of a winter Up North. Goats not as belligerent as you might expect. Not enough tea. Not enough knitwear, for that matter. But a good read,
A small cast of characters you sort of want to punch in the face but at the same time, you don't want anything really bad to happen to them. Mostly. You know the type.
Quite evocative of the grim, damp terror of a winter Up North. Goats not as belligerent as you might expect. Not enough tea. Not enough knitwear, for that matter. But a good read,
balloyd92's review
5.0
This book is definitely not for everyone but hoooo boo it was for me. The plot. The characters. The absurdity. The apocalyptic theme. The humour. All perfect. Also, anyone saying the last half is "too improbable" clearly needs to attune more to current events.
readbylinnea's review
3.0
3.5 I think. At the moment I'm not quite able to decide how I feel about it. It started out being weird got a bit weirder and then ended weird but it was also really entertaining and good.