Reviews

The Accidental by Ali Smith

jenmcmaynes's review against another edition

dark funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

bookishonereads's review against another edition

4.0

Disturbing, but also quite funny. My ignorance of pop culture was a handicap in understanding the intermittent soliloquies. The author's ability to give each character authentic voice is astounding. Her genius is also in evidence in the figure who infiltrates the family depicted here; the character is a sociopath, to be sure, but a dangerously refreshing one.

lavrendy's review against another edition

3.0

Ali Smith’s work has been consistently challenging for me but How to Be Both and Hotel World were worth the confusion. I pushed through The Accidental’s nutso tangents in hopes that it would all come together in one satisfying bite at the end but it didn’t and now I’m upset!

I was engaged for most of it and enjoyed the chapters from Astrid’s perspective though, so three stars.

pholh's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

amber_ray's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

simplycelestial's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

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

3.0

eilidhs's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

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

2.25

mrs_bonaventure's review against another edition

4.0

Artful. Cinematic. Contemporary. Incisive. Funny.
Anything else I say just won’t measure up to the writing.
Best read and judged for oneself.

stjernesvarme's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

nastja943's review against another edition

challenging reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5