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bex_knighthunterbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
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
4.5
I loved this hopeful story of a girl living on the great pacific garbage patch after the climate apocalypse. The writing was very stylised, which helped Tetley's personality come through and felt realistic for a setting generations into the future, where words have different meanings. I was a little confused at times, but ultimately really enjoyed reading this. The story is more slice-of-life than plot-heavy, which I did like, especially as Tetley's outlook is so positive and charming, and yet we still get to see character growth between the two parts. But, there were also a few twists I didn't anticipate which worked wonderfully. The world building was also mesmerising with strikingly beautiful and absurd imagery, which meant the story felt like a mix between sci-fi and magical realism or fairytale, with a dash of humour. It was also really powerful, with many points that made me think - particularly on the themes of hope (the different places it can be found and the dangers it can bring), consumption and ownership. Would recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Cursing, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Sexual content
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
THE PAST IS RED follows Tetley, first a child then an adult in Garbagetown, the floating raft of trash from the long-deceased Fuckwits who wrecked the planet and died long ago when the waters rose.
It's made of repurposed jargon, vibes, and fridge horror, which makes it hard to describe but excellent to read. Tetley is hated by everyone she knows at home because of something she does partway through the book. This greatly reduces the number of relationships to keep track of, but also turns every interaction into a chance for someone to hurt her and to feel justified according to the rules. Her main relationships are with Big Red and Goodnight Moon. The narrative is told out of order, which means that the effects of that one action play out through the entire story, first as foreshadowing of the event and then reflecting on it.
The worldbuilding is conveyed through a mix of direct explanations from Tetley and the strange gaps between what those things are now in reality versus what they are to her in Garbagetown. Every time she explains something there’s a dissonance between my understanding of the objects or concepts involved and what she says about them, and that dissonance fleshes out the world.
The plot was a bit hard to follow, as it bounces around between Tetley thinking to herself, actually doing things, or talking to someone about what happened. There’s a small moment towards the end which changed my understanding of a lot of sections from earlier, and another which implied the origin of a strange but important phrase. I think this will make a lot more sense when I re-read it, but I’m fine being confused for a while if the payoff is worth it. This time, it definitely is. The ending is my favorite part, with a twist in understanding that is beautiful handled.
It's made of repurposed jargon, vibes, and fridge horror, which makes it hard to describe but excellent to read. Tetley is hated by everyone she knows at home because of something she does partway through the book. This greatly reduces the number of relationships to keep track of, but also turns every interaction into a chance for someone to hurt her and to feel justified according to the rules. Her main relationships are with Big Red and Goodnight Moon. The narrative is told out of order, which means that the effects of that one action play out through the entire story, first as foreshadowing of the event and then reflecting on it.
The worldbuilding is conveyed through a mix of direct explanations from Tetley and the strange gaps between what those things are now in reality versus what they are to her in Garbagetown. Every time she explains something there’s a dissonance between my understanding of the objects or concepts involved and what she says about them, and that dissonance fleshes out the world.
The plot was a bit hard to follow, as it bounces around between Tetley thinking to herself, actually doing things, or talking to someone about what happened. There’s a small moment towards the end which changed my understanding of a lot of sections from earlier, and another which implied the origin of a strange but important phrase. I think this will make a lot more sense when I re-read it, but I’m fine being confused for a while if the payoff is worth it. This time, it definitely is. The ending is my favorite part, with a twist in understanding that is beautiful handled.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Torture, Cursing, and Bullying
Minor: Excrement, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Animal death
misty_muskrat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
5.0
This might be my favorite book of the year! Don't read if you can't take many, MANY curse words.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Emotional abuse
zlad13's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
emusing's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: Sexual content
skudiklier's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The Past is Red is depressing and funny and beautiful and horrifying and captivating. Going in I knew pretty much nothing about this book, so I was not at all prepared for how much it would tear at my heart. I don't think I'll ever forget this story, or these characters, or this world.
While reading, it kept catching me off-guard; so much of it is irreverent and darkly funny, but then it will occasionally slide effortlessly into heartfelt and sincere. It breaks my heart even more because of how rare and unexpected it is, and how genuine I know it is on the part of the character.
Also, semi-spoiler ahead, but I don't know how I was surprised every single time I ran into"None of that really happened, of course." I kept not expecting it, and it kept betraying me, and breaking my heart, and making me wonder.
The narrator, Penelope Rawlins, was wonderful as well. At first I was a little unsure, but wow they just made the story so real and charming and heartbreaking. For once I'm glad I listened to the audiobook rather than reading a print copy.
To end, here are two of my favorite quotes from the book. Because I listened to the audiobook, often while doing dishes or other things that kept my hands occupied, I didn't get to highlight/write down many lines while reading. But these were good enough that I had to:
"I think a joke like that is a present you make to yourself, so every time you say it, even if it hurts, you get a very cohesive feeling out of it, because the past you and the present you are talking to each other, and it's nice to have friends."
"The kind of hope I have isn't just greed going by its maiden name."
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to review this ARC.
While reading, it kept catching me off-guard; so much of it is irreverent and darkly funny, but then it will occasionally slide effortlessly into heartfelt and sincere. It breaks my heart even more because of how rare and unexpected it is, and how genuine I know it is on the part of the character.
Also, semi-spoiler ahead, but I don't know how I was surprised every single time I ran into
The narrator, Penelope Rawlins, was wonderful as well. At first I was a little unsure, but wow they just made the story so real and charming and heartbreaking. For once I'm glad I listened to the audiobook rather than reading a print copy.
To end, here are two of my favorite quotes from the book. Because I listened to the audiobook, often while doing dishes or other things that kept my hands occupied, I didn't get to highlight/write down many lines while reading. But these were good enough that I had to:
"I think a joke like that is a present you make to yourself, so every time you say it, even if it hurts, you get a very cohesive feeling out of it, because the past you and the present you are talking to each other, and it's nice to have friends."
"The kind of hope I have isn't just greed going by its maiden name."
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content
Minor: Rape
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