Reviews

Marlo by Jay Carmichael

zach_l's review

2.0

1.5 stars rounded up because I'm feeling generous. Allegedly this book is supposed to deal with racism, homosexuality, and life in 1950s Australia. It does none of these well. Anti-Aboriginal attitudes appear and then go away despite the author trying to make it a thread throughout the book. The main character is gay but he's so undeveloped that it's hard to care about him at all. And aside from a few, half-hearted generic descriptions of places, the book could be set anywhere. On the plus side, it's short and goes quickly so if you want to risk it, it won't take up too much of your time.

nathanreadsnovels's review

3.0

2.5

claire_melanie's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

alonsonm's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

vikkom's review

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

sophie_wallace's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

books set in melbourne >>

alexander_reads's review against another edition

challenging sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

ricardorcesar's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

“I’d rather inflict a wound on myself because at least then I would be in control of how it affected me.”

“We have a choice: to accept the world by refusing our desires or to defy that world and take hold of who we are.”

“Travel all you like along a straight trajectory, you could not prevent the world from cutting you short.”

Very interesting to see this kind of story set in mid century Australia

courtneybooks's review

fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

jeffrey's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75