Reviews

Ring by André Alexis

sloreads_ca's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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The book's first half sets up the characters, but I didn't know what the book was about and couldn't figure out where it was going. If I'd read the blurb, I'd have been fine. I should start paying more attention to the summary.

At the halfway mark, it’s like the gun went off at a race with a bang; the story takes off. It’s a deep story, with beautiful prose, reflecting on the thoughts and musings of those who came before us, specifically those directly in our lineage, the possibility of those who come after, and how complicated love can be.

The magical realism in Ring reminds me of a less surreal Murakami book. It has a similar whimsy and absurdity, but it’s more grounded. Ring is an adventure, showing that the reality we know can’t be taken for granted. 

shaunie991's review

2.0

DNF @ 34 %

ovenbird_reads's review

3.0

I loved the central investigation around love, sacrifice, marriage, and interconnected generations of women. I loved the magic realism and the weaving in of Greek mythology. That being said I thought this was the weakest of the five books in this series, or perhaps it just spoke to me the least. I also found it slow to start. If I hadn't loved the other four books so much I might have given up on this in the first 50-100 pages, but once the ring itself is introduced things pick up and I was ultimately glad I persevered. Alexis' writing style is luminous as always. I hope to give the entire Quincunx another read one day.

hanakorodgers's review

mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

I love André’s voice and prose - this novel felt like a series of love stories within one general arc, which was both endearing and unfinished. There was a sense that André was trying out several different approaches, all of which were well executed if only just too brief to make it worthwhile for each. 

bookgirl_sfz's review

5.0

This book took a turn in midway and then straight into my heart. So much to learn about life, choices and love from here

kailaelders's review

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.0

I really enjoy Alexis' writing style; I found it quite thoughtful and philosophical. I think this book suffered, for me, from some pacing and organization issues that would have made it a more enjoyable read. I really liked Gwen and Tancred and Ollie and Simone as characters, but feel there was more to discover in a way that was left to the wayside in favor of pages on the more minor characters like Nadia/Robbie and Michael/Morgan. I was really interested in the ring and its lore/rules, but in the final part it felt like a big departure from that, and Gwen's wishes were ultimately barely noted. For me, Fifteen Dogs was a better fit by this author.

evanlorant's review

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

4.25

The first 80 or so pages were a real slog, setting up a love triangle that’s virtually thrown away once the ring comes into play. but once the ring is introduced, the story comes alive. andre alexis is amazing at writing loveable and interesting characters and gwen and tancred were adorable and compelling. it was a relatively light read but not an uninteresting one and that’s not something i’ve ever encountered in a book before. the book definitely lives up to its interesting premise while offering some neat and thought provoking plays at resolving age-old questions about love. 

hannahjs's review

4.0

Subtle, yet mesmerizing. This book felt like a strange modern fairytale. 

mikayladlewis's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Another thought provoking yet entertaining read by Alexis. I found this one less philosophical that Fifteen Dogs but I enjoyed how the characters were given more of a spotlight while exploring different relationships.  

helmituuli's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I love André Alexis' voice (both as a writer and as an audiobook narrator). Ring is a wonderfully magical mix of the mundane and the philosophical with a little bit of whimsy added in. Something in Alexis' writing gives this storybook feeling, like going back to a book you loved as a child. I love the little nods to the other Quincunx novels - After I finish reading the others, I'll have to revisit the series and see what I might have missed!