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annab802's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
aduqu's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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? No
3.0
This book started so slowly, before barrelling to it's conclusion like an out of control train.
It's haunting, however it dragged a bit with no clear plot at the beginning.
It's haunting, however it dragged a bit with no clear plot at the beginning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Murder, Misogyny, Blood, Classism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Torture
Minor: Drug abuse
fcjb_x's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
bingled's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Gun violence, and Torture
ed_moore's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Elmet focuses on the arboreal lifestyle of siblings Daniel and Cathy, self-sufficient but also cared for by their larger than life father, known to them only as ‘Daddy’. Mozely explores issues of land ownership and the exploitation of the working class by employers and landlords, all while Daddy works for both an improvement in the livelihood of his community and also right to claim the land he has built his house and family on. Aside from the perspective character Daniel, whose innocent perspective obscures the full details many events in the plot, each character is likeable though morally tainted, to the point that you aren’t sure which side of the legal and physical feud portrayed by Mozely to root for. The book as a whole is quote slow paced, there is a lot of build up to a climax that is largely obscured, whereas short interjections throughout the story from a future Daniel in search of his family and the nature of the ending make the ambiguity of the novel acceptable, whereas in other books I am sometimes more against that. It is also worth noting the importance of sexual assault within the novel before embarking on it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
elsebeok's review against another edition
dark
sad
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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Animal death, and Sexual assault
nrbarnett1812's review
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Liked it! Felt it could have done more with the split timescale and that the plot didn't really start until half way through but overall enjoyed it, think it could have been even better if it was longer!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Rape
mapscitiesandsongs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Minor Spoilers ahead:
The first 80% of this book were just uninteresting. I was waiting for something to happen, but I was disappointed. I am not that kind of person that wants things to constantly happen, but if you have characters that are so stereotypical and not at all fleshed out, you need a convincing plot to keep me engaged. I am also quite puzzled by the fact that the future narration by Daniel lead to absolutely nothing. The ending came out of nowhere and basically felt like a sledgehammer. Like other reviewers have pointed out, it was similar to a Quentin Tarantino movie. I just couldn't take it seriously. There were other things that also bothered me: Who is Vivien exactly and why was her character even present in the story? It felt like she had a greater purpose, but nothing happened. What about Daniel's sexuality? Why was that even included and singled out (e.g. truck driver)? Another thing that made my blood boil was the unnessary violence against Cathy. STOP. USING. RAPE. AS. A. PLOT. DEVICE.
The first 80% of this book were just uninteresting. I was waiting for something to happen, but I was disappointed. I am not that kind of person that wants things to constantly happen, but if you have characters that are so stereotypical and not at all fleshed out, you need a convincing plot to keep me engaged. I am also quite puzzled by the fact that the future narration by Daniel lead to absolutely nothing. The ending came out of nowhere and basically felt like a sledgehammer. Like other reviewers have pointed out, it was similar to a Quentin Tarantino movie. I just couldn't take it seriously. There were other things that also bothered me: Who is Vivien exactly and why was her character even present in the story? It felt like she had a greater purpose, but nothing happened. What about Daniel's sexuality? Why was that even included and singled out (e.g. truck driver)? Another thing that made my blood boil was the unnessary violence against Cathy. STOP. USING. RAPE. AS. A. PLOT. DEVICE.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
maricasement's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I really enjoyed this book. Mozley's writing, especially, is astoundingly beautiful. Her descriptions make references to nature and pull you into the physical settings of the book effectively. The book is written in 1st person and our narrator is extremely connected to the natural world, so having the descriptions be like this is very believable.
I really enjoyed the relationships Daniel has with those around him: Daddy, Cathy and Vivian, mostly. I feel that he makes a good narrator as the one who observes everything that happens, without necessarily being the one who pushes the story further.
The relationship the family has with their land and the natural world is beautiful, too. The land is an extension of themselves; they take care of it and it does the same for them.
When I started reading this book (some time in 2020, after the pandemic had been going on for a while), these were the things that captivated me and made me enjoy the book so much. There was also the vague mystery of the chapters that occur in the future and what Mr. Price might do to Daddy.
But then it kept getting darker and darker and my anxiety (that already was sky high) just got worse. So I stopped reading it.
I left it to stew for more than a year and only continued it in December 2021. The ending was even more intense than I ever though it could be, but the book never stopped being beautiful.
This book also manages to discuss some interesting themes. Mainly, I think it's a book about relationships: our relationship with nature, the relationships between ourselves, our relationship with power and money and land and our relationship with our own body. Mozley is able to hint at and explicitly explore all these things through the narration.
My rating reflects the book's beauty, but also my conflicted feelings about it. Because of the writing and the narration, the book makes me feel calm and at peace, but the actual story and happenings are rather stressful and tense, creating a rather weird dichotomy (at least for me). In spite of this, I do highly recommend this book, but I do advise caution to anyone who might be sensitive to several topics (listed in my content warnings because of spoilers).
I really enjoyed the relationships Daniel has with those around him: Daddy, Cathy and Vivian, mostly. I feel that he makes a good narrator as the one who observes everything that happens, without necessarily being the one who pushes the story further.
The relationship the family has with their land and the natural world is beautiful, too. The land is an extension of themselves; they take care of it and it does the same for them.
When I started reading this book (some time in 2020, after the pandemic had been going on for a while), these were the things that captivated me and made me enjoy the book so much. There was also the vague mystery of the chapters that occur in the future and what Mr. Price might do to Daddy.
But then it kept getting darker and darker and my anxiety (that already was sky high) just got worse. So I stopped reading it.
I left it to stew for more than a year and only continued it in December 2021. The ending was even more intense than I ever though it could be, but the book never stopped being beautiful.
This book also manages to discuss some interesting themes. Mainly, I think it's a book about relationships: our relationship with nature, the relationships between ourselves, our relationship with power and money and land and our relationship with our own body. Mozley is able to hint at and explicitly explore all these things through the narration.
My rating reflects the book's beauty, but also my conflicted feelings about it. Because of the writing and the narration, the book makes me feel calm and at peace, but the actual story and happenings are rather stressful and tense, creating a rather weird dichotomy (at least for me). In spite of this, I do highly recommend this book, but I do advise caution to anyone who might be sensitive to several topics (listed in my content warnings because of spoilers).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment and Alcohol
khakipantsofsex's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
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