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thebobsphere's review
3.0
Could a book be too rambly? this was my problem with Daisy Hildyard’s Emergency. Theoretically I should love a book like this as the majority of it consists of detailed descriptions of nature be it rabbits or a three legged deer with a penchant for cakes and yet I couldn’t really get into the narrative.
During lockdown the narrator decides to speak about her childhood memories of living in rural England. As I stated earlier, these memories consist of long passages about plants, animals and her neighbours and friends and their relation to fauna and flora.
My problem with Emergency was the structure. It’s like someone talking to you without pausing. One long breathless chat. Although the actual descriptions are memorable, they tend to get lost in the book, as every topic is squished and compressed, leading to an exhaustive read.
It’s a pity because I do like descriptions of wildlife in novels.
During lockdown the narrator decides to speak about her childhood memories of living in rural England. As I stated earlier, these memories consist of long passages about plants, animals and her neighbours and friends and their relation to fauna and flora.
My problem with Emergency was the structure. It’s like someone talking to you without pausing. One long breathless chat. Although the actual descriptions are memorable, they tend to get lost in the book, as every topic is squished and compressed, leading to an exhaustive read.
It’s a pity because I do like descriptions of wildlife in novels.
s0phwhit's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
ciarafrances's review
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
johiggs's review
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
casparb's review
going to do the eyerollingly predictable thing and say is it A NOvel ,,,,, I really like this. I think we expect good things from fitzcarraldo & this delivers as it should, but it got me going elsewhere too. Melodramatically billed as 'dark pastoral' (??? o come on now) ,, Emergency lives in other directions, a kind of prose Afterlife of the Naturalist. I think the 'twist' abt 50 pages in where we're flung into lockdown was effective!! I kind of wanted more from that, and that did weave its way back in, the big capital T Themes are emerging ,,, maybe my/our expectations for something like this are little heresies. I don't know.
also! Daisy married to caleb klaces ? serve
also! Daisy married to caleb klaces ? serve
charlibeck's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Terminal illness
Minor: Miscarriage, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Racial slurs
It’s all very softly curiously observationally stated from the perspective of a very young encountering the world_m_a_r_a's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Incredible weaving of observations. Somewhere between fiction and non-fiction. Only flaw was my concentration - the non-stop tangential style sometimes was hard to stay focused on but ultimately that was what made the book so special.
bethglover's review
3.0
Different to any book I have read before. Hildyard, takes a real focus on the setting and describing the world around which she executes beautifully. She conjures up images so beautifully it is like painting with words. Growing up in a similar area it was interesting hearing this being described. I did find it a little tricky there being no chapters or at least clear breaks as to when I could stop reading! In addition, if you are looking for an action packed book this is not the one for you.
verbitschnis's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0