Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - Intimacies

I really want to enjoy this book, and there were elements I did enjoy. For instance, I enjoyed reading about The Hague and the trials and the work of an international court interpreter. However, the story felt a bit shallow. Every time I thought I’d discovered the plot line that was going to add more depth to the story, it plateaued.

All in all, it was a quick read that managed to feel light, despite moments of darker subject matter. Sometimes I need that in a book.

Content Warnings

literarysaara's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective relaxing tense fast-paced

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

4.0

A reflective, easy-to-read story that is the combination of 3 main ingredients combined into the melting pot that is this book: self-reflection, people-watching, and a strong desire to feel as if you belong to a place.

The story is told through the eyes of a half-Japanese, half-Caucasian woman who has recently moved to the Netherlands for interpretive/translation work for a local court. As she adjusts to this life in a new country, she begins to notice the small moments of intimacy that occur both within her work as an interpretor/translator, but also within her personal life as she adjusts to this new place, amongst new people. A prolific people-watcher, she has a strong desire to feel as if she belongs somewhere. And as the story progresses, we as the readers accompany her on this journey of self-discovery, and the tumultuous nature of interpersonal relationships and encounters.

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hkburke2's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book felt tightly written and very layered. I love a book that seems to capture something actually TRUE - sometimes it feels like characters are observing and thinking about people in ways no one does in real life, but the narrator here was definitely observable and in her own head in a way that felt so... palpable. I don't know, I see why people feel frustrated with the way dialogue is presented (without quotation marks) and sometimes the long sentences were disorienting, but it all just felt so sharp, to me. And vibrant. And oof.

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vif's review against another edition

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challenging reflective tense 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? Yes

2.5

Interesting to read about court proceedings from an interpreter's perspective.

Also really interesting how you start to see how an interpreter is just a tool and not a person contributing to anything. I felt this was used as an effective metaphor for how women are seen in society.

However I didn't like reading this book much. It's titled 'intimacies' and it explores many intimate relationships in its many forms but the main character's intimate relationships are all quite negative except with her mum. It makes for quite a depressing read.

I also didn't understand why she was so infatuated with Anton?? And why did she choose to go back to Adriaan despite how poorly he treated her??

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ukponge's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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