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A review by giro_revuescope
The North Water by Ian McGuire
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I was really looking forward to my hold coming in and then SO disappointed, wow.
Where is the rest of the damn book? If I'm reading a trapped in the frozen north story I expect a long haul! I shouldn't be able to finish it in a day because the author didn't bother to actually write any of the trapped in the frozen north bits!
Some of the plot is interesting but the laziness of presentation and the astoundingly high slurs/page ratio really got to me. I'm not pearlclutchy about language (I recently LOVED Devil In A Blue Dress) but after a certain point you have to establish why you're doing it and there seemed to be no reason other than that he COULD which was not sufficient for me. MELVILLE MANAGED GODDAMN SOMEHOW.
Also don't tease a dual narrative and then get lazy about writing the other POV! My god! What was the point!
Where is the rest of the damn book? If I'm reading a trapped in the frozen north story I expect a long haul! I shouldn't be able to finish it in a day because the author didn't bother to actually write any of the trapped in the frozen north bits!
Some of the plot is interesting but the laziness of presentation and the astoundingly high slurs/page ratio really got to me. I'm not pearlclutchy about language (I recently LOVED Devil In A Blue Dress) but after a certain point you have to establish why you're doing it and there seemed to be no reason other than that he COULD which was not sufficient for me. MELVILLE MANAGED GODDAMN SOMEHOW.
Also don't tease a dual narrative and then get lazy about writing the other POV! My god! What was the point!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Xenophobia