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breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-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
2.75
diegobrando's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
henryfork's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
erinmcentegart's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.75
Stunning writing, even if the prose did feel sometimes overwrought for me. So emotionally resonant. O’Connor’s protagonist feels like a real person, so wasn’t at all surprised to learn the book is semi-autobiographical - which also somehow made some uncomfortable exchanges the protagonist had even more uncomfortable. Some of the situations presented by the book felt a bit too absurd for me (the Chinese restaurant exchange !!) and I did struggle a bit to get more of a handle on their reality, but a lot of this is more of a personal incompatibility with the book’s approach in places, rather than technical complaints.
I think, above all, you can tell this is a book written from the heart - constructed with utmost care - and that makes it beautiful despite any personal reservations.
I think, above all, you can tell this is a book written from the heart - constructed with utmost care - and that makes it beautiful despite any personal reservations.
leynaraff's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dappledshade's review
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-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
3.5
bobthebookerer's review
5.0
The Voids starts in the grim tower block that gives this books its name- condemned housing where all hope appears lost.
The book soon moves us through the whirlwind life of somebody whose sense of reality and security is rapidly falling away from him. Drugs, family breakdown and trauma all circle around our narrator's life and threaten to pull him under.
Although this subject matter appears to be well-trodden ground, with echoes of novels like Trainspotting, this book is made exceptional by its quality of writing, and the tenderness that beats just beneath the surface, even in its darkest set-pieces.
As the book comes to its close, the language of this deceptively short book just soars- the final ten pages of this book left me almost euphoric, and rank among some of the tightest and smartest endings that I've read in a very long time, where its generous prose just sings and demands to be soaked in.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Scribe UK in exchange for an honest review.
The book soon moves us through the whirlwind life of somebody whose sense of reality and security is rapidly falling away from him. Drugs, family breakdown and trauma all circle around our narrator's life and threaten to pull him under.
Although this subject matter appears to be well-trodden ground, with echoes of novels like Trainspotting, this book is made exceptional by its quality of writing, and the tenderness that beats just beneath the surface, even in its darkest set-pieces.
As the book comes to its close, the language of this deceptively short book just soars- the final ten pages of this book left me almost euphoric, and rank among some of the tightest and smartest endings that I've read in a very long time, where its generous prose just sings and demands to be soaked in.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Scribe UK in exchange for an honest review.
maxjgraham's review
dark
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.25
blklagoon's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
This book has absolutely no plot just a guy kind of going about a depressing place meeting kind of weird and depressing folk - not a criticism. The writing really makes it, the descriptions and general vibe are so vivid. I can’t describe it but I felt it.