Reviews

Weather by Jenny Offill

ninabossley's review against another edition

3.0

this book gave me so much anxiety jesus christ

threegoodrats's review against another edition

2.0

It was too fragmentary, just flitting about from one thing to another, to feel like a cohesive story. Plus, not much happened. And it was told in first person but with zero emotion. I don’t know, everyone seems to love this author but I guess she’s just not my type.

scribblinginthemargins's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Written in stunning prose-poem style and explores climate crisis/anxiety, "prepping" for permacrisis and holding lightly to everyone and everything. I almost felt like this was a Buddhist-style philosophy text rather than a novella with the wistful doom of the main character discussing how her life will look once the collapse of the ecosystem hits.

This book felt particularly poignant in it's depictions of "prepping" and living in a constant state of anticipation of the next crisis/permacrisis considering the wake of the COVID pandemic. It sits uncomfortablely with the reader and the poem-like fragments leave enough gaps to fill in with your own sense of unease.

Nothing much happens in the book - there is no story or character arc - but I feel that adds to the sense of anticipation/crisis. Like waiting for something catastrophic to happen. I was intrigued by the co-dependent relationship between the main character and her brother and potentially something else could've come from this rather than constant stasis.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse

realityczar's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

el_viral's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Just beautiful. I picked this up at a charity shop as I thought it looked good and it didn't disappoint! Dreamy prose bordering on poetry, with a sense of existential dread articulated with skill.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction and Drug abuse

theregoesrose's review against another edition

funny reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

sunsetdreamsmog's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

1.75

duhitsamanda's review against another edition

I’ve learned I’m just not a fan of this writing style. This is the third book I’ve attempted to read with the style of vague paragraphs, unnamed characters, and a feeling of malaise. This prose feels a vessel for neoliberalism, and that’s about it. In the next decade, we will look back on this style of storytelling and it will feel like a million other microtrends parodied on Portlandia.  

itsallsoupnow's review against another edition

funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

bextera's review against another edition

5.0

Beautiful writing