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postmodernblues's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"Ingrid, he's a guest. He's not real. None of it is real." - Lara Williams, The Odyssey, page 223
Precisely the kind of bizarre, perverse book it is so easy for me to fall in love with. I like to think this is what Captain Stubing does to keep his crew members compliant.
Precisely the kind of bizarre, perverse book it is so easy for me to fall in love with. I like to think this is what Captain Stubing does to keep his crew members compliant.
sunzreads's review against another edition
3.0
I was intrigued by the life of a cruise ship crew member so I chose this book to download on NetGalley. The author, Lara Williams, concocted a peculiar story about consumerism, and people's strange way of pursuing faith in somebody. The story is about Ingrid and her life on the WA ship as a crew member and a mentee to the captain of the ship, Keith. Ingrid's idiosyncrasies, her routines at work, her friendship with other staff, her alcoholism, and her married life make her a unique character. It's a very unique and memorable read.
kyliemaslen's review against another edition
3.0
kept thinking of the first page the entire way through. did some interesting things, big depressed woman moving vibes, but didn’t keep me hooked.
emjayknocks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It’s hard to summarise this book. Eerie, mysterious… sticky, in some way? I wanted to keep reading even though nothing really happened for the most part. It certainly wasn’t funny as all the quotes on the book jacket claim. I’d be at a loss as to whether I’d recommend this book to others as it’s hard to figure out how I actually feel about it myself! Although Ingrid’s persistent boot licking and self-sabotage meant I couldn’t sympathise with her, I did enjoy the ending where she ultimately triumphed - even if triumphed means “held power over Keith briefly before they all drowned on the sinking ship”
lit_fic_nic_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
blossom91's review
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
littlespookysmut's review against another edition
2.0
Uhhh I’m not entirely sure what I just read but the writing was good?
yollipope's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
buer's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I don’t consider the following to have any spoilers because it’s very vague, but if that makes you nervous, maybe don’t read this.
I love magical realism, but The Odyssey did not do it for me. Lara Williams starts us off on a cruise ship with an odd protagonist who then takes a sharp left turn into being an extreme alcoholic and then takes another sharp left turn into possibly also being delusional or crazy.
The reader is left wondering how much of the narrative was true and - at least for me - any joy that might be found in the cartoonish setting of the decaying cruise ship at the end of the story is lost in the general confusion of what happened and what’s happening.
Williams does a good job of superficially closing the loop of the story, but it felt a bit like a cop out to me, like laughing at a joke because it’s familiar or agreeing with an argument because you’ve heard it before.
I wouldn’t recommend this book - it’s consistently yucky and I had second hand embarrassment for a lot of it, but if you like weird stuff and don’t mind unreliable narrators and ambiguous characters endings, you might like this.
I love magical realism, but The Odyssey did not do it for me. Lara Williams starts us off on a cruise ship with an odd protagonist who then takes a sharp left turn into being an extreme alcoholic and then takes another sharp left turn into possibly also being delusional or crazy.
The reader is left wondering how much of the narrative was true and - at least for me - any joy that might be found in the cartoonish setting of the decaying cruise ship at the end of the story is lost in the general confusion of what happened and what’s happening.
Williams does a good job of superficially closing the loop of the story, but it felt a bit like a cop out to me, like laughing at a joke because it’s familiar or agreeing with an argument because you’ve heard it before.
I wouldn’t recommend this book - it’s consistently yucky and I had second hand embarrassment for a lot of it, but if you like weird stuff and don’t mind unreliable narrators and ambiguous characters endings, you might like this.