Thank you Ruby for this in-depth analysis. I read She Who Remains but was sadly disappointed after all the hype created around it. I could not bond with the book, the characters on any level though I can see its brilliance and respect it.
The Witch was a total disaster; I feel sorry to say that aı could not get the point why it was included in the shortlist(while leaving behind such modern masterpieces like The Duke for example).
The Director was my absolute favourite; I liked its pace, its style, the way the atmosphere was created in our minds, the deliverance of its messages etc.
And my current read from the list is The Nights Are Quiet In Tehran which carries a high sense of foreboding for me(being Turkish and sort of going through a similar political phase)
I hope I can read through the whole list(the longlist hopefully).
And I love your writing Ruby, I hope you enjoy your reading and continue giving us pleasure with your writing :)
Ooooo that’s so interesting that you didn’t enjoy She Who Remains - for me, it’s my front runner BUT I am currently reading The Director which is shaping up to be a very interesting read. Can’t help but agree with you on The Witch…I am still pondering that one…will write about that on Friday! Thank you for your words of encouragement, they are hugely appreciated!
Good analyses, thank you. I also read recently She Who Remains and was mesmerized by the style of the author...so unusual, poetic, melodic, almost enchanting. I finished it in literally two sittings. It is the reading highlight of Q1 this year. I loved this book on many different levels:
1) It talks about an ancient but still existing tradition that could be fascinating if it was not so terrifying.
2) The story is very simple on the surface, but incredibly complex beneath. The author peels away layer after layer with such tenderness and skill that it feels almost seamless.
3) Although the story is ultimately rounded and concluded, the author leaves a lot of space for reader interpretation of the events leading to that conclusion.
4) The author takes significant risks by touching on areas that are very sensitive in the current climate of culture wars, especially in parts of Eastern Europe where the mood is strongly socially conservative.
I enjoyed every single word of this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in complex, deep, and unsettling human stories from Eastern Europe.
I just started The Witch, having a bit of a difficulty to get it going, bu I am still hopeful.
I love this - how beautifully you’ve dissected the novel. I really enjoyed how confessional it read. It felt surreal - almost dreamlike in a way. It was so easy to read but on the second read I tried to stay with it a little longer and felt myself pulled into the interiority of the protagonist. How she justifies her actions from the very inception of her birth. I don’t want to give too much away for those who haven’t read it but even the title. By the time you get to the end, it has such a significance to it! My thoughts on The Witch will be up on Friday (spoiler: I am with you…)
Thank you Ruby for this in-depth analysis. I read She Who Remains but was sadly disappointed after all the hype created around it. I could not bond with the book, the characters on any level though I can see its brilliance and respect it.
The Witch was a total disaster; I feel sorry to say that aı could not get the point why it was included in the shortlist(while leaving behind such modern masterpieces like The Duke for example).
The Director was my absolute favourite; I liked its pace, its style, the way the atmosphere was created in our minds, the deliverance of its messages etc.
And my current read from the list is The Nights Are Quiet In Tehran which carries a high sense of foreboding for me(being Turkish and sort of going through a similar political phase)
I hope I can read through the whole list(the longlist hopefully).
And I love your writing Ruby, I hope you enjoy your reading and continue giving us pleasure with your writing :)
Ooooo that’s so interesting that you didn’t enjoy She Who Remains - for me, it’s my front runner BUT I am currently reading The Director which is shaping up to be a very interesting read. Can’t help but agree with you on The Witch…I am still pondering that one…will write about that on Friday! Thank you for your words of encouragement, they are hugely appreciated!
Good analyses, thank you. I also read recently She Who Remains and was mesmerized by the style of the author...so unusual, poetic, melodic, almost enchanting. I finished it in literally two sittings. It is the reading highlight of Q1 this year. I loved this book on many different levels:
1) It talks about an ancient but still existing tradition that could be fascinating if it was not so terrifying.
2) The story is very simple on the surface, but incredibly complex beneath. The author peels away layer after layer with such tenderness and skill that it feels almost seamless.
3) Although the story is ultimately rounded and concluded, the author leaves a lot of space for reader interpretation of the events leading to that conclusion.
4) The author takes significant risks by touching on areas that are very sensitive in the current climate of culture wars, especially in parts of Eastern Europe where the mood is strongly socially conservative.
I enjoyed every single word of this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in complex, deep, and unsettling human stories from Eastern Europe.
I just started The Witch, having a bit of a difficulty to get it going, bu I am still hopeful.
I love this - how beautifully you’ve dissected the novel. I really enjoyed how confessional it read. It felt surreal - almost dreamlike in a way. It was so easy to read but on the second read I tried to stay with it a little longer and felt myself pulled into the interiority of the protagonist. How she justifies her actions from the very inception of her birth. I don’t want to give too much away for those who haven’t read it but even the title. By the time you get to the end, it has such a significance to it! My thoughts on The Witch will be up on Friday (spoiler: I am with you…)