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michelleheegaard's review
I was incredible confusing to keep track of the different persepctives. At least in audiobook format. Perhaps it would be different to read it.
thecaffeinatedlibrary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
2.5
Juja has some incredibly beautiful writing, but unfortunately the overarching plot and thematic movements of the characters fell short for me. I was just left feeling underwhelmed, and frankly very frustrated (and very mad, the longer it sits with me) by the events in the last 15% of the novel. I am interested to read more of the author's work, as the writing was beautiful.
I received the audiobook ARC through Netgalley, and the narrator was excellent with the diverse accents at play but there was a lot of playback issues that impacted my experience unfortunately.
I received the audiobook ARC through Netgalley, and the narrator was excellent with the diverse accents at play but there was a lot of playback issues that impacted my experience unfortunately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Rape
pomengranate_moon_'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
What a sad, strange story.
Juja is a story about mental health, relationships, literature, and connectedness. Is a challenging story that isn’t always very easy to get through but the payoff is the beautiful writing itself. I feel like this is the type of book that could mean something different to you each time you read it but that also changes you as you read it. It leaves you feeling both empty and hopeful. It leaves you asking questions.
What a sad, strange story.
Juja is a story about mental health, relationships, literature, and connectedness. Is a challenging story that isn’t always very easy to get through but the payoff is the beautiful writing itself. I feel like this is the type of book that could mean something different to you each time you read it but that also changes you as you read it. It leaves you feeling both empty and hopeful. It leaves you asking questions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
holaola's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jager123's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Self harm, Sexual content, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
ghazalg's review
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I was very intruiged by this book initially and thought it had a lot of potential. However I just didn't like the characters or understand the obsession with the Saré or her book. Had there been more about how her book was so captiatinng or more about how the other characters related to it other than 'its like I wrote it' I may have rated the book higher.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Murder
paulap's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book is about a book that was written in the 50s allegedly by a 17 year old that then committed suicide. A wave of suicides related to this book in the 80s spark the interest of 2 people in 2004. Two women: one art historian from Amsterdam and another woman with a traumatic past from Sidney. The book mostly follows them in their search for answers about the book and the author.
The book had a very unsettling atmosphere, which I don’t enjoy but can appreciate. The writing was good, and the story was fine.
The book had a very unsettling atmosphere, which I don’t enjoy but can appreciate. The writing was good, and the story was fine.
maddysbookcase's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kate66's review against another edition
2.0
I am very aware that some reviewers appear to have a different relationship to this book and to Nino Haratischvili's work but for me there were maybe a few parts around the halfway mark that held my interest otherwise I found it confusing, quite mad in parts and somewhat incomprehensible in others.
I could barely keep up with who the characters all were as they all appeared to be different parts of the same person and all of them were miserable and wallowing in their sadness.
I understand the complexity of this novel and understand it has to be that way but my mother would have put it succinctly - they need to get out, get some fresh air and stop living in their own heads. I'd have to say I found all the characters unlikeable and at least one of them was loathsome. I didn't care about what had happened to them or the action they might take having been persuaded by a book to kill themselves.
I was glad to have finished it but it definitely gave me a headache. The second star is for the small amounts that made some sense to me. Not for me. Too introspective.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance review copy.
I could barely keep up with who the characters all were as they all appeared to be different parts of the same person and all of them were miserable and wallowing in their sadness.
I understand the complexity of this novel and understand it has to be that way but my mother would have put it succinctly - they need to get out, get some fresh air and stop living in their own heads. I'd have to say I found all the characters unlikeable and at least one of them was loathsome. I didn't care about what had happened to them or the action they might take having been persuaded by a book to kill themselves.
I was glad to have finished it but it definitely gave me a headache. The second star is for the small amounts that made some sense to me. Not for me. Too introspective.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance review copy.
jan_steen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75