debi_g's review against another edition
3.0
My son wanted to know what this book is about. After I explained, he said "it sounds like _Diary of a Wimpy Kid_ for grown ups."
Sure enough. The similarities are there, and the book did make me think more about the cruelty of life for middle-school-age kids than I wanted to. The physical and emotional brutality is horrifying to remember, and to fear for my child.
The novel includes a few zingers, usually typeset within parenthesis for we plebeian readers: "Often I think boys don't become men. Boys just get papier-mached inside a man's mask. Sometimes you can tell the boy is still in there" (127) and "Words are WHAT you fight with but what you fight ABOUT is whether or not you're afraid of them" (245).
I like Madame Crommelynck, who imparts pointed wisdom about writing and life in general, speaking in quips to say things like "...all photographs testify to time's relentless melt" (157).
I did not enjoy the predictable personal and familial arcs. Jason's underdoggyness and festering, sensitive, victimization builds until any result will be either anti-climactic or unacceptably out of character.
I did not appreciate the self-conscious, deliberately obfuscated narrative that caught the attention of the awards panelists.
Although I can understand the book's appeal for many, I would not have finished _Black Swan Green_ if it hadn't been a club selection.
Sure enough. The similarities are there, and the book did make me think more about the cruelty of life for middle-school-age kids than I wanted to. The physical and emotional brutality is horrifying to remember, and to fear for my child.
The novel includes a few zingers, usually typeset within parenthesis for we plebeian readers: "Often I think boys don't become men. Boys just get papier-mached inside a man's mask. Sometimes you can tell the boy is still in there" (127) and "Words are WHAT you fight with but what you fight ABOUT is whether or not you're afraid of them" (245).
I like Madame Crommelynck, who imparts pointed wisdom about writing and life in general, speaking in quips to say things like "...all photographs testify to time's relentless melt" (157).
I did not enjoy the predictable personal and familial arcs. Jason's underdoggyness and festering, sensitive, victimization builds until any result will be either anti-climactic or unacceptably out of character.
I did not appreciate the self-conscious, deliberately obfuscated narrative that caught the attention of the awards panelists.
Although I can understand the book's appeal for many, I would not have finished _Black Swan Green_ if it hadn't been a club selection.
sarahheidt's review against another edition
5.0
For lots of people, I think, this novel was a way in to Mitchell's work: it's more straightforward, structurally, than the earlier novels, and it's about growing up. Just because it's simple doesn't mean it's simplistic, though. I'd love to reread this one.
funktious's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as I usually dislike 'coming of age' books because I well remember what it was like to be a teenager and it was awful. And Mitchell clearly agrees because this is chock full of teen awkwardness and horror and bullying and overblown drama. The sort of thing that looks ridiculous from an adult perspective, but is super serious for a teenager and I empathise with that so much that I usually avoid this genre entirely. But I read somewhere that this was a good place to start with Mitchell and I'm glad I did, because despite all of that the book really sucked me in. You really feel Jason's pain, but because of that his victories (over himself as well as others) are also really satisfying and enjoyable. He's a great character (if a touch too insightful and expressive for a teenage boy) and while the one year this book focuses on may seem pretty boring and event-less, Mitchell shows how it isn't to him and how important this one year is. The final scene is just perfect.
schenkelberg's review against another edition
3.0
Mitchell demonstrates his mastery of language again, this novel was a bit slower for me to read, and didn't have any sense of urgency about it (I had no qualms about dropping it for a week and then returning it, whereas every moment I had to spend away from Cloud Atlas was agony), and it was weirdly irritating how Robert Frobisher was inserted, in a totally clunky way. (although, I really don't know if Black Swan Green was written before or after Cloud Atlas).
Nonetheless, this book is a masterful story, with unforgettable characters and a brilliant, hyper-realistic portrayal of adolescence as-it-actually-is instead of how-I-as-an-adult remember it. There's disappointment and boredom and shame and secrets and tiny, magnificent victories and friends-turned-bad and enemies-turned-human. There's the supernatural, the dull-beyond-belief, and failure, and sibling love/hate. This book is wonderful.
Nonetheless, this book is a masterful story, with unforgettable characters and a brilliant, hyper-realistic portrayal of adolescence as-it-actually-is instead of how-I-as-an-adult remember it. There's disappointment and boredom and shame and secrets and tiny, magnificent victories and friends-turned-bad and enemies-turned-human. There's the supernatural, the dull-beyond-belief, and failure, and sibling love/hate. This book is wonderful.
megea's review against another edition
4.0
What I love about David Mitchell's novels is that they all allude to each other at some point. It makes you feel as if you're part of the in-crowd if you've read the others and get the connections. Which is kind of funny since Black Swan Green, set in adolescence, details finding the courage to not want and try desperately to be in the in-crowd.
robdabear's review against another edition
5.0
Another Mitchell novel that choked me up beyond my own understanding. This, I think, is a Bildungsroman I will most certainly not forget.
lilusbilus's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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
3.75