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kat7890erina's review
3.0
The Airways was... strange.
Told from two perspectives, the reader is taken on a journey from Sydney to Beijing in a bizarre cat-and-mouse that reminded me of both Behind Her Eyes and The Yellow Wallpaper.
If you can persevere with the initial discomfort of the disembodied narration and the incredible tension built by Mills's prose, the conclusion is quite satisfying.
Told from two perspectives, the reader is taken on a journey from Sydney to Beijing in a bizarre cat-and-mouse that reminded me of both Behind Her Eyes and The Yellow Wallpaper.
If you can persevere with the initial discomfort of the disembodied narration and the incredible tension built by Mills's prose, the conclusion is quite satisfying.
henrymarlene's review
3.0
“The Airways” is unlike other books. And to review it is in a similar nature, because it is the only way to allow thoughts to come to the surface after reading it. The opportunity to become close to the characters, to get to know them emotionally is minimal. You get to know them through their physicality, their presence, where they are and about the very sensory functions that keep them alive. You are immersed in the dead spaces of their lives, and can feel the loss of liveliness and connection, and the impacts this brings about. Time is also altered in this book; it does not seem linear. There are no connections, they are but fragment in the moments of life we witness through Adam, in particular.
The book, like the body, relies on the power of the lungs - picture an upside down tree – to kickstart a lifeforce into action, and stem through experiences and exchanges of other important components. Was Natasha was Adam’s heavy beating? Was Marita the moral compass burdening down on everyone? Was Yun the wake up call that Adam did not want? Adam seems to have temporary relief in all aspects of his life, and it was transitory at best. Maybe living and dying is not so black and white after all, and it is the in-between that is stark, blunt and absolute.
The book, like the body, relies on the power of the lungs - picture an upside down tree – to kickstart a lifeforce into action, and stem through experiences and exchanges of other important components. Was Natasha was Adam’s heavy beating? Was Marita the moral compass burdening down on everyone? Was Yun the wake up call that Adam did not want? Adam seems to have temporary relief in all aspects of his life, and it was transitory at best. Maybe living and dying is not so black and white after all, and it is the in-between that is stark, blunt and absolute.
elissaburns's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
quaintrelle_chantelle's review
1.0
I was immediately struck by the poetic tones of the writing with this book. Mills opens in a dramatic, descriptive scene that evokes slight fear, inquisitiveness & a bit of that “What the hell have I just started reading?”. Unfortunately, despite persevering, I found it hard to relate to any one of the characters. I read on feeling mostly confused. I think a connection (for me) was sadly missing from this particular book. Maybe this kind of writing is a bit too arty for my tastes, but I just couldn’t get into it.
binchickin's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
iainbertram's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
numbat's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
curatoriallyyours's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
2.0
There’s literary fiction then there’s whatever this is. I had no idea what was going on basically the whole way through the book and not in an immersive way (LOTE by Shola von Reinhold does this very well) - if I had cared more about the characters or if the mystery had been made to feel worth unravelling I might have felt more compelled to try to work out what was going on. I listened to the audiobook version via my library (boy am I glad I did not spend money on this book!) and the narrator’s voice also failed to make the story sound more interesting, but I blame the writing rather than the actor. Some points given for some of the descriptive passages I guess, but overall this book misses the mark, in my opinion, and I’m glad I’m done with it.
astridandlouise's review against another edition
Requires concentration and an attentive mind, which I currently lack. Placing aside now and will return to when I can give it the attention it deserves.
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