A review by tabitha_isabelle
The Eighth Life (for Brilka) by Nino Haratischwili
1.5
A history book masquerading as fiction. Studded throughout with explanatory passages detailing the nuances of the historical period, I felt that this overly ambitious work did not fulfil its promise. I enjoyed the insight it gave me into Georgian history (something I knew very little about), but could not get over the poor quality of the writing. The characterisation was especially weak - incidents seem contrived, whilst decisions lacked believability. At times the characters felt like mere caricatures. The reams of exposition did not help in this regard.
One more thing (that hardly needs saying) a book focusing on a family in the Soviet Union in the 20th century does not need an additional something that brings people misfortune or bad luck - terrible things were happening anyway! The magical hot chocolate was redundant.
On the whole a dissatisfying read.
One more thing (that hardly needs saying) a book focusing on a family in the Soviet Union in the 20th century does not need an additional something that brings people misfortune or bad luck - terrible things were happening anyway! The magical hot chocolate was redundant.
On the whole a dissatisfying read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence