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pixe1's review
1.0
This was just way too strange - in terms of "plot", structure and substance - for my tastes.
stitching_ghost's review against another edition
3.0
The prose was not stylized enough for it to be satisfying for me and I didn't feel like there was any kind of a sufficient plot to make it otherwise engaging. Even the mundane cruelties of dystopia came across as tired of themselves in this one...
Neutral 2.5 rounded up.
Neutral 2.5 rounded up.
exelone31's review against another edition
4.0
Really well written and interesting, I flew through this book.
But.....I didn’t really understand what the point of it was. Either way, still gets four stars for the novelty and quality of the writing.
But.....I didn’t really understand what the point of it was. Either way, still gets four stars for the novelty and quality of the writing.
theheartisayolk's review
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kristen_eden's review against another edition
5.0
The writing style isn't quite my fave, but WOW this book. Short and simple, but not easy. The last chapter is like a gut punch. Well. Each chapter is a gut punch; it builds and builds; it's an ugly and exact portrait of our society: "There is a permanent sickness in my stomach. It is a revulsion and it is a disgust, and it is a disgust at who I am and have been - who you are - who we are together - who everyone together becomes in this day and age out on the pavement... We are maintained by a violence so complete, it is like air."
mrmokek's review
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Another one for the philosophy bros, but I kinda vibed with it this time
Ball seems to be trying to say fuck you to convention in all its forms, which is fair enough, but makes the book a little confusing to read since it's written almost like a poem - somehow still a fast and easy read though
The infanta story and the letter felt quite complete and nicely concluded in the sense that their incompleteness felt purposeful, whereas lois/lethe's and eben's stories just felt loose and disconnected
With the exception of the infodump at the beginning, the worldbuilding was woven into the story very nicely
I had to do a little background reading to connect together the various loose ideas that were coming across into a coherent message and while I respect the fuck you to trump, it somehow was both extremely on the nose and too vague to be understood??
Overall, kinda confusing but fun to read with some banger lines
Ball seems to be trying to say fuck you to convention in all its forms, which is fair enough, but makes the book a little confusing to read since it's written almost like a poem - somehow still a fast and easy read though
The infanta story and the letter felt quite complete and nicely concluded in the sense that their incompleteness felt purposeful, whereas lois/lethe's and eben's stories just felt loose and disconnected
With the exception of the infodump at the beginning, the worldbuilding was woven into the story very nicely
I had to do a little background reading to connect together the various loose ideas that were coming across into a coherent message and while I respect the fuck you to trump, it somehow was both extremely on the nose and too vague to be understood??
Overall, kinda confusing but fun to read with some banger lines
marydith's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I loved a lot of things about this– I typically love any kind of story where you have to figure out the intricacies of the world-building yourself through subtle contextual clues rather than relying on straight up exposition, and this was definitely a strong example of that.
My main issue is that this felt like 4 short stories trying to be a cohesive novel. None of the sections felt quite long enough, so it felt like we were getting 70% of four different pictures, and none of them fit together quite right. I really loved each individual section, but I wish they had been a bit more fully formed.
My main issue is that this felt like 4 short stories trying to be a cohesive novel. None of the sections felt quite long enough, so it felt like we were getting 70% of four different pictures, and none of them fit together quite right. I really loved each individual section, but I wish they had been a bit more fully formed.