Reviews

Il convalescente by Jessica Anthony

lujda's review against another edition

Yikes. I did not enjoy a single page of the 74 I forced myself to read before quitting. McSweeney's, you've never before let me down quite like this!

bamandia's review against another edition

4.0

this book was totally weird and utterly imaginative. i don't think it's for everyone, but it was surely for me.

nonoemi's review against another edition

5.0

I picked it up purely based on the title and cover and it ended up being one of the best books I've ever read. Mythic and personal. Fun and horrible. Beautiful and grotesque. I really hope Anthony is working on sophomore book. How (it seems) this book has gone largely unnoticed to this point is shocking.

Go read it!

ericfheiman's review against another edition

4.0

Certainly one of the more unique and bizarre novels I've read in a long while. Anthony's main accomplishment here is to fully inhabit the psyche of a mute Hungarian dwarf that sells meat from the back of his abandoned school bus home and longs for the affections of a local benevolent doctor who treats him. The flip tone of the parallel historical narrative sometimes grates, but considering the idiosyncratic nature of the story and point of view, I was surprised by how much the book stuck with me emotionally.

cj_dumas's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

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

4.5

This book is weird af. This is what the metamorphosis wishes it could be. 

pearloz's review against another edition

4.0

Loved this book. Legitimately strange story about a somewhat-believable outsider. It never gave in to pity though it could have and it never became maudlin though you could see other writers taking that path. I loved the ending, too.

abbeyreads13's review against another edition

4.0

3.5 rounded up*** The writing is fantastic, peculiar main character with an interesting premise … I was rather committed to the atmosphere & Rovar’s POV. But the ending is a bit of a letdown.

moirastone's review against another edition

3.0

Hahahahahaha!

Hee!
HAHAHAHA!
Oh, wow.
Oh god that is dark.
Oof.
HA!
Heh.
...
Why am I crying?

aliciaaaah's review against another edition

3.0

I loved the style and the weirdness of this - but thought it seemed like there was something missing. The ending felt abrupt.

ashpociadlo's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0