Reviews

The characters in this book were so vividly realized, their emotional/philosophical entanglements so clearly and wholly etched, that reading it was seamless and oddly pleasant, despite how unpleasant the material could be at times. Austin is one of the most utterly despicable characters I have ever read. All too believable. Though Ludwig’s struggle of conscience over draft-dodging didn’t have any intrinsic interest to me (drafts should be dodged, every one of them), it made sense, I could understand his crisis, maybe because it didn’t have anything, ultimately, to do with the war. There is a kind of all-consuming sense of importance in the characters’ thoughts and philosophies and struggles, and then on the other hand a curiously gratifying sense of pointlessness. This is one of the strangest novels I’ve read in my life, I think. It’s definitely got under my skin. Looking forward to reading more of her work.

chaoticbookgremlin's review against another edition

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challenging reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

shevek's review against another edition

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4.0

What a doozy. I liked this a lot more than The Sea, the Sea for reasons that are difficult to pin down. For one thing, it's just more enjoyable to read in lots of parts—though other parts are fairly ponderous. I'll also admit that I was taken by surprise towards the end when I realized I was supposed to be taking some elements of the plot seriously that I hadn't been. Still, a lot to chew on from this one. Definitely not for everyone, but a very interesting book.

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