Reviews

Winter by Ali Smith

cpoole91's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

casebounder's review against another edition

3.0

I read most of Ali Smith’s new Seasonal Quartet entry, Winter, on my flight down to Texas. It turned out to be a great holiday read about sitting down to Christmas dinner with family whom you don’t see eye-to-eye. And of course Smith is also still artfully investigating the generational gaps and ideological biases that lead to Britain’s Brexit vote. For me, living under Trump’s administration in the US, Smith’s quartet has been a balm of sorts for my healthy snowflake outrage. (He said with pride.) Definitely looking forward to Spring and Summer in 2018. And while we’re at it, midterm elections.

I think I enjoyed Autumn more - but it’s hard to say. For me, there’s a character pairing in Autumn that I really enjoyed and became the heart of the story. Winter doesn’t have such a strong center, but it *did* read more accessibly and effectively overall.

jordyn_lightyear's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

4.5

curatoriallyyours's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This is the second book in the seasonal quartet by Ali Smith and it was somewhat difficult to follow. I also liked the characters less than in Winter (book 1). The writing itself is engaging and something I think the author does quite well is writing banter between characters. There are some unresolved things in the book, which felt frustrating. For example, the hallucinations, or perhaps elements of magical realism, are never really explained or addressed, and the strained relationships between the characters do shift but not in a wholly satisfying way. Ali Smith’s writing is good but I didn’t really connect with this book in the way I would have liked. 

today_catsandbooks's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

I love how she writes through metaphor and it is a piecing together of what is happening. Such beautiful writing.

zoer03's review against another edition

5.0

This book is outstanding.... beautiful.... odd..... haunting yet utterly captivating and moving. It also makes your brain work.

noshyira's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

beaatrizreis's review against another edition

3.0

I just don’t know what I feel towards this woman’s writing style

vilderoos's review against another edition

5.0

Ali Smith er et geni !!!!!!!!!!

injexia's review against another edition

4.0

"A long time in your life, a short time in mine, she says. That's life, and time, for you. What are you doing with your life and time right now?
I've got exams, he says.
Right, she says. But what are you doing with your life and time right now?"

yet again 0% understanding 100% vibes

"So I think of him, and I think of the word father, and it's kind of like there's a cut-out empty space in my head. I quite like it. I can fill it any way I like. I can leave it empty.
Though there are days when it's a bit like when they say a car cuts out, just stops, like all my ignition's gone."