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quincunxes's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
Imaginative & vivid. Adored the scenery (moonlit English countryside, reminiscences of childhood overwritten by strange magic; golden pampas grass and hummingbirds, endless time in semi-civilization; phosphorescent caves, crystals, bells, submersion).
In Part III the green child's home is found again. The society is utterly different, there is no individuality, no ownership, no love or attachment between people.
The conclusion of Olivero's moving through the stages of this underworld is his realization that the body is infected by the soul, and so death is desirable.
Even if Olivero was always nonchalant toward his life: his death was sickening. I felt cold & had to reject it.
What begins as fascinating fairytale ends in a deep (ideological?) loneliness.
smark1342's review against another edition
Incredibly weird, kinda bewitching, 100% will reread. Eliot weinberger intro adds a bunch of context that made for useful treasure hunts I.e he was reading about Paraguayan history and traditional english myths and so of course this is the book that comes out. Some critic also wrote about how confusing it is that the content of the book seemingly disavows read’s anarchism (pt 2) but I don’t think that’s true at all, he fabricates this idealized thought experiment of what society might be like and it consists of everyone ceasing to care about holding office and everyone goes about their affairs happily until miners come. Maybe that kind of world that still has kinda lovingly sensuous descriptions of military uniforms could only be written by an anarchist war hero who accepted a knighthood. Then the final part is a strange beautiful ornately weird description of an entirely different way people might live together and an entirely different set of values they might have. Someone else also criticized him for having no sense of evil and after they do away with the Spanish colonists in pt 2 everything does seem like smooth sailing, but I think this is necessary for the thought experiment.
I feel like I’ve seen descriptions of the human form merging with coral (I know it’s in Piranesi and I think cosmocomics?) and for some reason those stories all work for me. I wanna turn into coral
I feel like I’ve seen descriptions of the human form merging with coral (I know it’s in Piranesi and I think cosmocomics?) and for some reason those stories all work for me. I wanna turn into coral
awrathall's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This is a tough book to get into, but it raises some very interesting ideas and has a strong if simple cast of central characters.
I think the novel's most praiseworthy aspects are the scope of Read's imagination and the world-building, particularly in the final portion. Clear thought has gone into every aspect of the story, which is laid out in an effective non-chronological manner, carefully managing the vastly different locations Olivero travels to.
However, it is quite obvious that Read was more a critic/essayist than he was a novelist (this being his only published piece of prose fiction). The writing is very plain and instructive at times, often lacking a sense of character and energy. This made some portions quite gruelling to get through, especiallyOlivero's extended contemplation of why the river's flow might have changed in Part 1, and the detailed description of his economic and governmental policies in Roncador. . Then again, the book is only ~200 pages long so these slogs are still quite small in the long run.
Altogether, whilst it is by no means a groundbreaking novel and I can't promise much in the way of excitement or drama, The Green Child is entirely singular: I can't imagine I'll ever read another book quite like it. Many strands of Read's life and work - his theories on art psychology, his quietist anarchism, his rural upbringing - come together here in a remarkable and charming way.
P.S. I found Olivero becoming a dictator through an extended series of accidents/chance encounters/misunderstandings very funny, and actually not too implausible.
I think the novel's most praiseworthy aspects are the scope of Read's imagination and the world-building, particularly in the final portion. Clear thought has gone into every aspect of the story, which is laid out in an effective non-chronological manner, carefully managing the vastly different locations Olivero travels to.
However, it is quite obvious that Read was more a critic/essayist than he was a novelist (this being his only published piece of prose fiction). The writing is very plain and instructive at times, often lacking a sense of character and energy. This made some portions quite gruelling to get through, especially
Altogether, whilst it is by no means a groundbreaking novel and I can't promise much in the way of excitement or drama, The Green Child is entirely singular: I can't imagine I'll ever read another book quite like it. Many strands of Read's life and work - his theories on art psychology, his quietist anarchism, his rural upbringing - come together here in a remarkable and charming way.
P.S.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Physical abuse and Toxic relationship
jonasd's review against another edition
4.0
An amazing book that combines interesting philosophy with strange fantasy and beautiful writing. A rare find that I'll be thinking about for a long time.
sarahsponda's review against another edition
3.0
I heard about this book ages ago on the 20 Strange and Wonderful Books site and hoo-boy, was it strange. More strange than wonderful, although I enjoyed it.
Read's 1935 book is technically a novel, and there are fantasy elements, but the whole thing is more of a cold and distant philosophical exercise, albeit a well-written one.
Read's 1935 book is technically a novel, and there are fantasy elements, but the whole thing is more of a cold and distant philosophical exercise, albeit a well-written one.
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