habertoes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
samarakroeger's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I think Sheila Heti just isn't really for me. I read Motherhood earlier this year, which I was also pretty meh about. In both books I did NOT vibe with the heavy religious themes and spirituality included. I don't know, her books make me think, but not really in a good way. This one I also found kinda boring and tuned out of it frequently. It's a weird-ass book about losing your dad (kind of). Heti just seems so "fake deep" to me and is trying so hard to be intellectual without really saying anything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
woolgatherer's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
2.75
Well, this was a short and deceptively simplistic read. You don’t need to use overly complicated language to dive deep into philosophical themes, as Heti proves in Pure Colour. I think what was a miss for me, though, was I wasn’t quite sure what point she wanted to get across, or if there even was a point, considering that there isn’t really a plot (a lot of fragmented writing, which I don’t mind), nor was there much character development (which I kind of minded). It admittedly reached a point where everything felt superficial in the book’s attempt to be profound. And yet, I kept reading, in part because I found the language engaging.
One thing I can say with certainty is I was very weirded out by the incestuous nature of the narrator and her dead father’s relationship? I don’t know, but it was definitely not on my bingo card to read that his spirit ejaculated into her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Incest
adelineania's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
itsheyfay's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Incest
savvylit's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
How to describe this incredibly unique book? A transcendent fable. A celebration of mortality. A bizarre meditation on grief. A guidebook for humanity. A loving ode to trees. A manifesto on the necessity of art. A novel filled with truth and clarity. Unforgettable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: Incest
redrosemoth's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Incest, Toxic relationship, and Suicide
albajl's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
IF I COULD GIVE IT 300 STARS I WOULD
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
unboxedjack's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A good, poetic meditation on what it means to be human and wrestle with grief, love, and art. At times the author seemed to be trying too hard to be pithy (I really could have done without all the references to ejaculate, but hey, you do you, Sheila Heti), but it was a solid and bittersweet read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Death
marjoleinvanderspoel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A strange novel about grief and love and the delusions it can cause. Interesting musings on ideology, but kind of grating repetition of certain points that I don't agree with. I didn't like the constant use of god (metaphor or not) as an explanation, reason, scape goat, whatever. But I did really enjoy the spiraling and instances of near-arborescens so there's that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Death of parent