Lis

An important novel

Revisado: 11-15-18

Such a poetic and humbling novel! And a sad but incredibly beautiful portrait of love, and the power of women! This is a classic I’ll want to revisit in print.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Unfortunately boring

Revisado: 04-28-18

I really wanted to like this book. The description seemed right up my alley, but it all went on way too long and I only got half way through the book. I had a hard time following the story, unsure if that was because I was distracted or it was the story. Either way, the audio didn’t hold my attention.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Generally helpful

Revisado: 04-29-17

Overall, this book passed the time easily. I thought the advice she got from different couples across the world was always very interesting, and enjoyed how she drew aspects of that advice into her own relationship. I did get a little annoyed at the narration, which felt very upper class, white, privileged-feminist, but that was more of a personality thing. At times, I felt like there was cultural appropriation going on which distracted me from what she was trying to say and I got hung up on it. At the same time I could tell she was trying to be sensitive to those issues and I appreciated her ability to ask questions and be candid in travel. Overall, I enjoyed it, and found the broad range of advice given very helpful and introspective.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Thorough interesting research, average story

Revisado: 01-31-17

I enjoyed the accounts of the artists in this book, and I found myself looking them and their art up throughout the book out of curiosity. Which that's what this book did - perked my curiosity. I liked the art history lesson, which you can tell Olivia Laing has done some very thorough research and I thought her own personal story and how it intertwined with the artists was cool. But at times the narration got old and dry, and I wasn't dying to listen to it everyday. Written beautifully, but not always profound.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 6 personas

Profound. Better to physically read

Revisado: 12-31-16

I enjoyed the frankness of Winterson's prose and it definitely made me want to read her novel "Oranges aren't the only fruit". I appreciated her story, but I feel like this book is one I would have enjoyed reading more than listening to, just because it's not an overly exciting memoir, and the writing style is delicately lyrical. That's the only reason I'm giving it 3 stars. Great book, but for an audiobook I prefer something with a little more plot, climax, and storytelling. Some of this is of course the nature of it being autobiographical rather than a novel.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Complex and insightful

Revisado: 10-25-16

I loved this book. Slow moving, but not in a negative way. It brought me into another world that I was enthralled with the culture and life. I thought the friendship between Lila and Elena was intriguing and saw a lot of similarities in my own female relationships, particularly as a child and teen. This story delves much deeper than just a friendship. It deals with class, sexuality, puberty, gender roles, privilege, feminism, and culture. I think that reading the novel, vs listening would have been a bit easier, as it gets hard to remember all of the characters' names. Very well done.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Original and witty.

Revisado: 10-25-16

I feel that the Nix was a truly original story that has kept me thinking after I read it. Thinking, not in a awe inspiring, super moving, "OMG that was amazing!" way, but more in a way of questioning my own life, my perceived Nix's and how I can get too involved in patterns of comfort and taking the easy way out. I was wondering how the book could possibly wrap up in a way that pleased me, but I'm happy to say that it did. The story had a perfect balance of modern day parallels that tied in well with the sixties. I loved the way the narrator performed the book - he and the author had me laughing multiple times, and yet also feeling somewhat hollow and surprised. For the majority of the book, I felt confused as to why Laura and Ponage had so much time dedicated towards them. I do feel like once I got to the end, I felt more resolved with that and it made more sense, but in the moment, I felt like their stories dragged on too long. Besides that, I'm sad that the book is over. It was cleverly, humorously, and beautifully crafted.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Feels like a movie

Revisado: 10-25-16

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Predictable

Which scene was your favorite?

I really liked the scenes with his younger brother. That added a more human and believable element to the story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I felt super enthralled in the book the entire time, as it was super gripping and I enjoyed it. I didn't feel like it was super original, enlightening, or inspiring, but just a good story. Really great audiobook to get you through a more monotonous task.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Grew to love it

Revisado: 10-06-16

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, but I would let them know it's slow moving and building. Nothing impeccably climactic, but more so a tender story with slight dark humor.

Any additional comments?

I initially started listening to this audiobook, and was underwhelmed and kind of hated Ove (which I think was the point) but I grew to love him and the story (which I think was ALSO the point). Good endearing listen that I was sad to have ended when it did.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A controversial topic dealt with delicately

Revisado: 08-30-16

Would you listen to All the Ugly and Wonderful Things again? Why?

Yes. It's incredibly original and easy to finish.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book definitely made me uncomfortable, filled me with love, and completely tore at the heartstrings.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas