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gmhmeredith's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The first section of this book, I absolutely adored. The writing was witty and poignant and full of nuance. However the latter half was unnecessarily clunky. I appreciate the importance of changing the narrative voice, however it was even changed for historical /linguistic accuracy, it was just flowery and over indulgent. I found it really hard to follow. That said, I enjoyed the first section so much that I could likely pick up another Ali Smith book.
toc's review against another edition
5.0
An interesting book.
Half of it counts as one of the best book I've ever read. I was practically breathless reading it. I just had to read the next sentence, turn the next page. It was a big let down when I hit the end simply because I wanted more!
The other half counts as a very good book. But not in its own right. It counts as a very good book because I read the other half first and the stories interlock in odd ways. This part was not so breathless at first but it did eventually pull me in. Again, a let down when I hit the end because I wanted more!
Read it and judge for yourself. But you may not read it in the order I did. Different print runs reversed the order of the halves. I hope you start with the story I did because I think it makes the other all the more worthwhile. Of course, had I read it in the other order I may have said the same exact thing!
Half of it counts as one of the best book I've ever read. I was practically breathless reading it. I just had to read the next sentence, turn the next page. It was a big let down when I hit the end simply because I wanted more!
The other half counts as a very good book. But not in its own right. It counts as a very good book because I read the other half first and the stories interlock in odd ways. This part was not so breathless at first but it did eventually pull me in. Again, a let down when I hit the end because I wanted more!
Read it and judge for yourself. But you may not read it in the order I did. Different print runs reversed the order of the halves. I hope you start with the story I did because I think it makes the other all the more worthwhile. Of course, had I read it in the other order I may have said the same exact thing!
emmacska's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
libraryofjessica's review against another edition
will come back when i’m in the mood lol! not a bad book by any means, but very dense
10downing's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this. I loved the art, the history, the present, and the method with which the author combined them all.
westonculture's review against another edition
5.0
I just finished Ali Smith’s 11th book, the Booker-shortlisted How To Be Both, and I keep asking myself, “How has this brilliant writer escaped my reading list?”
I’ve certainly been aware of Smith’s work since the queer mutterings around her first short story collection, Free Love, in 1995. I’ve even heard readers speak of her work with an enthusiasm usually reserved for writers such as Jeanette Winterson and Margaret Atwood.
Yes, Winterson and Atwood. This is the literary league of Ali Smith. Her writing is complex, masterful and poetic; it captures the beauty and mystery of existence as well as the banality and humour of the everyday.
How to Be Both is two novellas – one contemporary story of 16 year-old George whose world has been turned upside-down by the death of her mother and the other the story of a little-known renaissance painter, Francesco Del Cossa, reimagined as a woman. The two stories traverse art, history, time, gender, duality – and finally merge in an “Oh that’s what’s going on! … I think” way about two-thirds through. (There are dozens of reviews online that go into plot and themes if you need more detail.)
In addition to asking myself how on earth I’d lived without Ali Smith all my reading life, the other thought upon finishing the book was “I have to re-read it”. (So I’d read it and yet not read it – oh the layers of “being both”!). There is just so much here to savour.
How To Be Both is easily my favourite novel of the year (yes, even better than the new Sarah Waters) and its brilliance has reignited my passion for fiction. (David Mitchell’s The Bone Clocks and Lauren Beukes’ Broken Monsters have suddenly gone back on my Must-Read-Now! list.)
Hoo-ray for Ali Smith
this review first appeared on westonculture
:)
I’ve certainly been aware of Smith’s work since the queer mutterings around her first short story collection, Free Love, in 1995. I’ve even heard readers speak of her work with an enthusiasm usually reserved for writers such as Jeanette Winterson and Margaret Atwood.
Yes, Winterson and Atwood. This is the literary league of Ali Smith. Her writing is complex, masterful and poetic; it captures the beauty and mystery of existence as well as the banality and humour of the everyday.
How to Be Both is two novellas – one contemporary story of 16 year-old George whose world has been turned upside-down by the death of her mother and the other the story of a little-known renaissance painter, Francesco Del Cossa, reimagined as a woman. The two stories traverse art, history, time, gender, duality – and finally merge in an “Oh that’s what’s going on! … I think” way about two-thirds through. (There are dozens of reviews online that go into plot and themes if you need more detail.)
In addition to asking myself how on earth I’d lived without Ali Smith all my reading life, the other thought upon finishing the book was “I have to re-read it”. (So I’d read it and yet not read it – oh the layers of “being both”!). There is just so much here to savour.
How To Be Both is easily my favourite novel of the year (yes, even better than the new Sarah Waters) and its brilliance has reignited my passion for fiction. (David Mitchell’s The Bone Clocks and Lauren Beukes’ Broken Monsters have suddenly gone back on my Must-Read-Now! list.)
Hoo-ray for Ali Smith
this review first appeared on westonculture
:)
smalefowles's review against another edition
challenging
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? It's complicated
5.0
Such a five-star book I'm tempted to knock the rating down on the others I've read so far this year.
Easy for me to love--clever and experimental, packed with allusions to art and art history, but also the story of a preteen losing a parent, and so.
Easy for me to love--clever and experimental, packed with allusions to art and art history, but also the story of a preteen losing a parent, and so.
chelbakery's review against another edition
challenging
funny
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
3.5