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rvdh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Addiction
vickyoyarzun's review against another edition
5.0
Uno de los mejores libros que he leído en mi vida.
Cada vez me iba rompiendo más ver cómo se desarrollaba la vida de Tove, a pesar de haber cumplido sus sueños siempre había una nube negra que la perseguía, la adicción es una de las peores cosas que le puede pasar a una artista...
Adoro lo sincera, irónica y hermosa que puede ser la prosa de este libro, parece que las palabras le fluyen a la autora de forma tan natural como si conversara con un amigo de toda la vida, confiriéndole sus secretos.
Te doy todas las estrellas que quieras Tove
Cada vez me iba rompiendo más ver cómo se desarrollaba la vida de Tove, a pesar de haber cumplido sus sueños siempre había una nube negra que la perseguía, la adicción es una de las peores cosas que le puede pasar a una artista...
Adoro lo sincera, irónica y hermosa que puede ser la prosa de este libro, parece que las palabras le fluyen a la autora de forma tan natural como si conversara con un amigo de toda la vida, confiriéndole sus secretos.
Te doy todas las estrellas que quieras Tove
rachel_o_reads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
3.75
The first of the trilogy, Childhood, really drew me in. I found the prose to be beautiful and haunting.
A few of my favorite quotes:
“Childhood is long and narrow like a coffin, and you can’t get out of it on your own. It’s there all the time and everyone can see it just as clearly as you can see Pretty Ludvig’s harelip.”
"Wherever you turn, you run up against your childhood and hurt yourself because it’s sharp-edged and hard, and stops only when it has torn you completely apart. It seems that everyone has their own and each is totally different."
“Childhood is dark and it’s always moaning like a little animal that’s locked in a cellar and forgotten. It comes out of your throat like your breath in the cold, and sometimes it’s too little, other times too big. It never fits exactly. It’s only when it has been cast off that you can look at it calmly and talk about it like an illness you’ve survived. Most grownups say that they’ve had a happy childhood and maybe they really believe it themselves, but I don’t think so. I think they’ve just managed to forget it.”
The trilogy lulled with the middle book, Youth, but an otherwise worthwhile read. I think my love of the writing in Childhood is pulling down my judgement for the rest of the trilogy, although the story progressed and was fleshed out well, showing her flaws and all, I just felt there was something lacking in the writing as the trilogy went on...only in comparison to the first book.
A few of my favorite quotes:
“Childhood is long and narrow like a coffin, and you can’t get out of it on your own. It’s there all the time and everyone can see it just as clearly as you can see Pretty Ludvig’s harelip.”
"Wherever you turn, you run up against your childhood and hurt yourself because it’s sharp-edged and hard, and stops only when it has torn you completely apart. It seems that everyone has their own and each is totally different."
“Childhood is dark and it’s always moaning like a little animal that’s locked in a cellar and forgotten. It comes out of your throat like your breath in the cold, and sometimes it’s too little, other times too big. It never fits exactly. It’s only when it has been cast off that you can look at it calmly and talk about it like an illness you’ve survived. Most grownups say that they’ve had a happy childhood and maybe they really believe it themselves, but I don’t think so. I think they’ve just managed to forget it.”
The trilogy lulled with the middle book, Youth, but an otherwise worthwhile read. I think my love of the writing in Childhood is pulling down my judgement for the rest of the trilogy, although the story progressed and was fleshed out well, showing her flaws and all, I just felt there was something lacking in the writing as the trilogy went on...only in comparison to the first book.
pineconek's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.5
The title of this trilogy-memoir truly sets the tone of it, and we get what's on the tin.
In other words, we see Tove's life unfold in three acts: first, a childhood of poverty, self doubt, and squashed ambition. Then, a youth of false promises, false starts, all against the terrifying backdrop of early 1930s European politics. And we culminate in the personal tragedies of dependence, soured relationships, broken dreams. Overarching themes include art-as-lies, searching for a savior, searching for self reliance, and facing yourself.
The trilogy is written with remarkable maturity and nothing feels embellished to make the author look better than she is. All flaws are on display, including those that she can't quite justify to herself either. It's a painfully naked read, and feels extremely intimate and vulnerable. I cannot overstate the rawness of it.
Recommended if you are interested in a first-hand account of "woman as tortured artist" that feels simultaneously honest and voyeuristic, and want to have a rock in your stomach whenever you think back to reading this (which is how I currently feel, writing this review). These emotions are uncomfortable, 's all. 4.5 stars on SG rounded up to 5 on GR.
In other words, we see Tove's life unfold in three acts: first, a childhood of poverty, self doubt, and squashed ambition. Then, a youth of false promises, false starts, all against the terrifying backdrop of early 1930s European politics. And we culminate in the personal tragedies of dependence, soured relationships, broken dreams. Overarching themes include art-as-lies, searching for a savior, searching for self reliance, and facing yourself.
The trilogy is written with remarkable maturity and nothing feels embellished to make the author look better than she is. All flaws are on display, including those that she can't quite justify to herself either. It's a painfully naked read, and feels extremely intimate and vulnerable. I cannot overstate the rawness of it.
Recommended if you are interested in a first-hand account of "woman as tortured artist" that feels simultaneously honest and voyeuristic, and want to have a rock in your stomach whenever you think back to reading this (which is how I currently feel, writing this review). These emotions are uncomfortable, 's all. 4.5 stars on SG rounded up to 5 on GR.