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leakleino's review against another edition
3.0
what the FUCK have I just read? I devoured this book because it’s so unique and like nothing I’ve ever read before. However, I think I’m not smart enough to really get the point of the book??? Like most of it was just weird and that’s it. Weird in a good way but weird.
siakou's review against another edition
1.0
I hate books that don’t explain a single thing of what is going on.
Except from being boring with a self pitting narrator who’s on the borderline of insanity I have no clue what this was about but I do know that I hated every single moment of it.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin General UK for the digital ARC.
Except from being boring with a self pitting narrator who’s on the borderline of insanity I have no clue what this was about but I do know that I hated every single moment of it.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin General UK for the digital ARC.
the_sunken_library's review
3.0
Well written and weirdly compelling. Shame about the flat ending.
The narrator is dislikable and deluded - an alcoholic who has abandoned their home, job and husband to hide away in the anonymity of a cruise ship for the past 5 years.
Ingrid, our narrator, is like a ghost - living out the pretense of an existence, playing "Families" with the only two friends she's made on board. This thruplet have incredibly dysfunctional relationships that make for uncomfortable reading, especially when you learn the motivation behind why Ingrid ran from her previous life.
One day, Ingrid is given the honour of joining a special and very secret club by the Captain of the ship. Everyone around her is jealous and questions why she has been chosen above them, especially Mia (dysfunctional friend no.1) who seems to love and loathe Ingrid with equal measures.
As Ingrid begins to become indoctrinated by the charismatic but clearly unstable Keith into what is essentially a cult, her tenuous grip on reality begins to loosen, and the carefully curated statis of simultaneously existing and not existing aboard the cruise ship starts to fall apart.
As her trips to land become more erratic and out of control, what shes willing to do to stay in this exclusive circle becomes more extreme (think body amputation). Even the ship its self literally begins to disintegrate. As this occurs, Ingrid repeatedly tells herself this is right, this is what must happen and almost develops a kind of Stockholm syndrome about the whole situation. Those around her question the sanity of her and Keith's behaviour, but she remains steadfast, commiting herself to the programme completely, preparing herself to be "the best person she can be".
This was such an interesting concept and scenario. I don't mind unlikeable characters as long as they have substance and I think Ingrid was a decent offering. However, I wanted to know more about her childhood and mad parents, more about why her husband stuck with her through everything and more about Ezra and Mia. Even Brian! How a customer could embrace the madness of sleeping on a crewmates' floor. I wanted more. Also, that finale - of Ingrid transforming as the ship literally sunk - there was so much potential and yet it felt like a lazy end.
Other reviews have accused this as being indulgent to the millennials ennui - presume those were boomers. That it was "smug". I didn't get that at all. But I also don't agree that its modern satire or devilishly funny.
Also, that stock photo cover is dog shit. Come now.
The narrator is dislikable and deluded - an alcoholic who has abandoned their home, job and husband to hide away in the anonymity of a cruise ship for the past 5 years.
Ingrid, our narrator, is like a ghost - living out the pretense of an existence, playing "Families" with the only two friends she's made on board. This thruplet have incredibly dysfunctional relationships that make for uncomfortable reading, especially when you learn the motivation behind why Ingrid ran from her previous life.
One day, Ingrid is given the honour of joining a special and very secret club by the Captain of the ship. Everyone around her is jealous and questions why she has been chosen above them, especially Mia (dysfunctional friend no.1) who seems to love and loathe Ingrid with equal measures.
As Ingrid begins to become indoctrinated by the charismatic but clearly unstable Keith into what is essentially a cult, her tenuous grip on reality begins to loosen, and the carefully curated statis of simultaneously existing and not existing aboard the cruise ship starts to fall apart.
As her trips to land become more erratic and out of control, what shes willing to do to stay in this exclusive circle becomes more extreme (think body amputation). Even the ship its self literally begins to disintegrate. As this occurs, Ingrid repeatedly tells herself this is right, this is what must happen and almost develops a kind of Stockholm syndrome about the whole situation. Those around her question the sanity of her and Keith's behaviour, but she remains steadfast, commiting herself to the programme completely, preparing herself to be "the best person she can be".
This was such an interesting concept and scenario. I don't mind unlikeable characters as long as they have substance and I think Ingrid was a decent offering. However, I wanted to know more about her childhood and mad parents, more about why her husband stuck with her through everything and more about Ezra and Mia. Even Brian! How a customer could embrace the madness of sleeping on a crewmates' floor. I wanted more. Also, that finale - of Ingrid transforming as the ship literally sunk - there was so much potential and yet it felt like a lazy end.
Other reviews have accused this as being indulgent to the millennials ennui - presume those were boomers. That it was "smug". I didn't get that at all. But I also don't agree that its modern satire or devilishly funny.
Also, that stock photo cover is dog shit. Come now.
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
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 against another edition
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