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jrosenstein's review
4.0
Beautifully written and haunting without being precious or claustrophobic. Fog is a persistent metaphor throughout the book and I liked the way Sweeney's writing captures that feeling of mystery, isolation and presence that comes from being trapped in the fog. She also does a nice job of using stories from Ovid's Metamorphoses as emotional touchpoints. Maybe I identified a little too much with the main character, a girl who finds it a bit hard to get out of her own head and into the real world, but she was very believable and humanly flawed. I would have liked a few more concrete answers to some of the mysteries about the characters, but overall it was a lovely, engrossing read.
sharona_cat's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
My favorite book. Something about the dreamy, lonely way it’s written just really speaks to me.
ettegoom's review
4.0
I picked this book up to use as a prop in a show, and started reading it.
It's a very gentle story that examines loneliness, grief, and coming of age.
I found Miranda relatable. Her realisation of how things worked outside of her very insular childhood and adolescence was realistic in the haphazard and confusing encounters she has with outsiders.
The conclusion wasn't entirely satisfying, but neither was the rest of the story, and neither is life. Questions are not always answered and we sometimes never find out what happens to those we leave behind.
Overall a good book, and one I'll probably read again at some point. I'll also be adding Ovid to my To Read list.
It's a very gentle story that examines loneliness, grief, and coming of age.
I found Miranda relatable. Her realisation of how things worked outside of her very insular childhood and adolescence was realistic in the haphazard and confusing encounters she has with outsiders.
The conclusion wasn't entirely satisfying, but neither was the rest of the story, and neither is life. Questions are not always answered and we sometimes never find out what happens to those we leave behind.
Overall a good book, and one I'll probably read again at some point. I'll also be adding Ovid to my To Read list.
slimy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
sseaford's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
vanesasvenditti's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
daniaustria's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sneakypants's review against another edition
reflective
slow-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
4.5
Starts a little slow, but part of the way through I had a hard time putting it down. I ended up really loving this book
ecstaticlistening's review
4.0
This was a perfect book to read as I prepare to leave NYC. Sweeney captures all the awkwardness that comes from being new in this city--from feeling under dressed and unfashionable at all times, to not knowing what a "regular" coffee is, to learning how to walk with the crowd. My favorite observation about New Yorkers is about weather. In the rain, "they seemed to feel as if the weather was meant for someone else, or somewhere else," and isn't that always the way with New Yorkers? Some days I feel like a bunch of Californians somehow ended up in the Northeast, surprised to find that it gets cold or snows or rains or is generally intemperate 75% of the year. I've been trying to pin that attitude down for years.
Oh, the story is lovely, too, and Sweeney builds characters that make sense, like people you have met. This book got me devouring books in a way I haven't for years. I'm writing this review, and I hardly ever do that anymore.
Oh, the story is lovely, too, and Sweeney builds characters that make sense, like people you have met. This book got me devouring books in a way I haven't for years. I'm writing this review, and I hardly ever do that anymore.