pick#bookerlonglist #11
I found the first half of the book really compelling and intriguing, with the mix of marriage-bureau and saving the snails. (sounds odd but kind-of works!)
I also liked the meta-fiction elements, where the author inserts her own thoughts on the Ukraine war into the storyline.
Later on, it all started to get a bit dis-jointed and I didn‘t think the author quite nailed the ending.
squirrelbrain It still deserves a place on the shortlist though for its sheer breadth and inventiveness. 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures So the Endling didn't Ending well? 🤣 1mo
Hooked_on_books This was on my radar before the Booker list came out and its inclusion pushed me over the edge to get it. I‘m looking forward to it! And @ChaoticMissAdventures I was going to make a similar pun! 😂 1mo
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TheKidUpstairs Just finished this one today, will post my review soon. Short version: I loved it 😁👍 1mo
TheKidUpstairs I really liked the slightly disjointed ending. It seemed to fit with “The Author“'s inability to make sense of art and war, and her increased need to find a way to save her grandfather, even if only on the page, knowing she would never be able to do it in reality. 1mo
monalyisha Totally thought the pun was going to be that she didn‘t quite “(s)nail” the ending. 🐌😅 1mo
BarbaraBB Curious about this one after reading @TheKidUpstairs review too. 1mo
squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures @Hooked_on_books @monalyisha LOL - it was a bit *startling* in places too! 🤦♀️ 1mo
squirrelbrain Holly - I had the ARC a few weeks before the longlist came out - I just hadn‘t had chance to read it. 1mo
squirrelbrain I think you‘ll love it @BarbaraBB 1mo
squirrelbrain I liked the grandfather part, @TheKidUpstairs - I felt that the introduction of Pasha and his storyline at the end, was either not enough depth or too much distraction. I know that doesn‘t make sense - it just felt a bit ‘tacked on‘ to me. 1mo
monalyisha @squirrelbrain Love it. 🤩😅 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain yes, I agree that the Pasha as artist part was unnecessary. I think my brain just glossed over that because I loved the rest so much! 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha 🤣🤣🤣 1mo
63 likes14 comments
so-so
