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A review by madgerdes
Downdrift by Johanna Drucker
2.0
I was truthfully very excited to read this book. It caught my attention on the "new books" shelf at the library and the premise was too interesting for me to pass up - I mean, a book from the perspective of a 3.8 million year old Archean about the genetic seepage of human social qualities into the animal kingdom? Of course I'm gonna pick it up. However, I think a lot of it unfortunately went over my head. There were definitely funny moments, usually quick witty bits that made me appreciate Drucker's genius. The moments that lost me included the Archaean's existential ramblings and philosophical analyses of the "downdrift."
This book wasn't particularly plot or character driven, and really just advanced with the passing of time. While I can appreciate that sometimes, in combination with the confusing philosophical word vomit it just caused more confusion for me. I really had to motivate myself to finish this book (and I'm glad I did) but I think the anti-climactic absence of a traditional ending (the result of the absence of a traditional plot) was pretty disappointing to me. I definitely understand the praise and appreciation for this book, it just definitely isn't the type of writing that I digest easily.
This book wasn't particularly plot or character driven, and really just advanced with the passing of time. While I can appreciate that sometimes, in combination with the confusing philosophical word vomit it just caused more confusion for me. I really had to motivate myself to finish this book (and I'm glad I did) but I think the anti-climactic absence of a traditional ending (the result of the absence of a traditional plot) was pretty disappointing to me. I definitely understand the praise and appreciation for this book, it just definitely isn't the type of writing that I digest easily.