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lavrendy's review
4.0
A sweet novella with the kind of quiet, observant prose that reminds you to appreciate the little things! And also your mom and everything she’s been through for you
gizmo_gadget's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Hot take: If you like Fleabag, you will like this novel.
Reading the distorted (and ironically self-absorbed accounts) of the main character’s interactions with her close family and friends (non of whom she deigns to humanise with a name except her partner, who she reveres as a beacon of perfection and familiarity) is akin to slowly giving yourself a headache while thinking endless, flaccid thoughts. She embarks on a trip meant to reconnect her emotionally to her sick (probably dying) mother. Trying her utmost at the beginning of each section to live in the moment and explore in tandem, she quickly spirals into endless contemplations about the very nature of connection. This is webbed together by cold, distant memories, and philosophising she holds in high regard, but realistically paints a bleak picture of her ability to find joy in her surroundings. She is, on some level, aware of the fact this makes her socially incompetent - but misdiagnoses the issue as a lack of situational control with those who she looks down upon (family), and some deep personal/cultural failing with those who she admires (friends, teachers, etc). Her struggle is painfully Sisyphean and nauseating, as she drives herself in infinite, neurotic circles of failed introspection.
She is also unfortunately relatable. I particularly felt deep empathy with her inability to connect to her mother, in part thanks to an uncrossable generational gap, which I will facetiously label trauma-core. She certainly does not try at any point to reach out across this gap, but, from experiences with my own family members, I have to imagine this is somewhat to do with the fact she has resigned. Watching her mother through her blurry, detached point of view is heart-wrenchingly familiar to the apathetic glaze that sets over my mind whenever I speak to my close family. Some bridges are too broken to cross, and the act of crossing is replaced with self-soothing memories of its past usability.
In conclusion: oh god oh fuck i’ve romanticised too close to the sun
Reading the distorted (and ironically self-absorbed accounts) of the main character’s interactions with her close family and friends (non of whom she deigns to humanise with a name except her partner, who she reveres as a beacon of perfection and familiarity) is akin to slowly giving yourself a headache while thinking endless, flaccid thoughts. She embarks on a trip meant to reconnect her emotionally to her sick (probably dying) mother. Trying her utmost at the beginning of each section to live in the moment and explore in tandem, she quickly spirals into endless contemplations about the very nature of connection. This is webbed together by cold, distant memories, and philosophising she holds in high regard, but realistically paints a bleak picture of her ability to find joy in her surroundings. She is, on some level, aware of the fact this makes her socially incompetent - but misdiagnoses the issue as a lack of situational control with those who she looks down upon (family), and some deep personal/cultural failing with those who she admires (friends, teachers, etc). Her struggle is painfully Sisyphean and nauseating, as she drives herself in infinite, neurotic circles of failed introspection.
She is also unfortunately relatable. I particularly felt deep empathy with her inability to connect to her mother, in part thanks to an uncrossable generational gap, which I will facetiously label trauma-core. She certainly does not try at any point to reach out across this gap, but, from experiences with my own family members, I have to imagine this is somewhat to do with the fact she has resigned. Watching her mother through her blurry, detached point of view is heart-wrenchingly familiar to the apathetic glaze that sets over my mind whenever I speak to my close family. Some bridges are too broken to cross, and the act of crossing is replaced with self-soothing memories of its past usability.
In conclusion: oh god oh fuck i’ve romanticised too close to the sun
phoenix2's review against another edition
3.0
Cold Enough for Snow is a novella about a trip that a mother and a daughter take together to Japan. That trip prompts a lot of memories and thoughts to resurface. The book has this cold, wintery atmosphere to it, with simple writing but full of emotion nevertheless, and a nice pace when it came to the main narrator's thoughts.
And yet, the ending as well as the whole description of the trip were all partial and needed a bit more space and a bit more details. Maybe the relationship between the daughter and the mother should have more depth into it, and that too felt partial and read between the lines.
Still, the book is easy to read and a beautiful short piece of a slice of life.
And yet, the ending as well as the whole description of the trip were all partial and needed a bit more space and a bit more details. Maybe the relationship between the daughter and the mother should have more depth into it, and that too felt partial and read between the lines.
Still, the book is easy to read and a beautiful short piece of a slice of life.
annemichellec's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
juliapac's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
frasergreen's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
alecpulver's review against another edition
3.5
Super reflective and tender. Prose was a little too descriptive for my liking at times. Overall a nice little read.
sophiem14's review against another edition
5.0
truly flawless piece of writing. so beautiful and warm, I can tell it’ll stay with me for a while.
mrmokek's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
another reviewer described this book as hypnotic and i think that is the perfect word - i haven't disappeared into a book like that since i was in my early teens
first of all, i love the writing style. as someone who typically dislikes overly descriptive writing because of how flowery it gets, au's approach is refreshing and also just gorgeous??
secondly, i cannot describe exactly what this book is about (partially because i finished it like 35 min ago and i'm still reeling), but that feels very appropriate. au is communicating Something very clearly, and i know what it is, but i don't know how to word it concisely (and to be honest i don't think she does either, probs why it took an 80 page book)
don't really know where to put this thought but I also love that it indulges in academic wank and deep reflections on things while simultaneously being like what the fuck you are massively overthinking this this is not about you - it's a nice duality and i like that both of those things sit uncomfortably together
would strongly recommend this book to anyone with immigrant parents, people who intellectualise their feelings, most english students, anyone who has experienced gifted kid syndrome, unreliable narrator enjoyers, and people who monologue/have extended conversations with imaginary audiences in their own heads
first of all, i love the writing style. as someone who typically dislikes overly descriptive writing because of how flowery it gets, au's approach is refreshing and also just gorgeous??
secondly, i cannot describe exactly what this book is about (partially because i finished it like 35 min ago and i'm still reeling), but that feels very appropriate. au is communicating Something very clearly, and i know what it is, but i don't know how to word it concisely (and to be honest i don't think she does either, probs why it took an 80 page book)
don't really know where to put this thought but I also love that it indulges in academic wank and deep reflections on things while simultaneously being like what the fuck you are massively overthinking this this is not about you - it's a nice duality and i like that both of those things sit uncomfortably together
would strongly recommend this book to anyone with immigrant parents, people who intellectualise their feelings, most english students, anyone who has experienced gifted kid syndrome, unreliable narrator enjoyers, and people who monologue/have extended conversations with imaginary audiences in their own heads