Reviews

Avalon by Nell Zink

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jellyworld's review against another edition

5.0

I would compare the plot to The Idiot by Elif Batuman and say it’s equally unsatisfying but way more engaging because Nell Zink is the greatest

pricklyperin's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

emilyrowanstudio's review against another edition

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I... did not get this book?
Other reviewers have said she's satiring intellectualism, but seem equally confused. This, to me, does not read as a satire, but a book that takes itself very seriously. Had to stop reading soon after the love interest, Peter, was introduced cos he seems like such a horrible person. Not a flawed character - just not very nice??
The book before he enters is meandering and not awful but does leave you wondering where this is going.

bunceyyy's review against another edition

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2.0

Thanks to Faber & NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this title.
Unfortunately I struggled with it, as I enjoyed parts, and it had some very relatable quotes/situations/etc. (one exceptional line was that women are often "too vulnerable to have a sense of humour". But then there was the suggestion that becoming a screenwriter in Hollywood is as easy as "writ[ing] movie scripts and mak[ing] money", with the help of your friend who is "going to be a producer"...). Ultimately, nothing of much note happened; the protagonist was either annoying me or I was feeling sorry for her;, and it wasn't as focused on her survival of a near-cultish upbringing as I thought the blurb suggested it would be. I don't feel like Bran does much searching for - and definitely no finding of - "meaning in her own [life]" either.

santi37's review against another edition

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reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

lynnetteharris's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

0.25

The author wrote the review for me. "I had never read a book so rigorous and mundane-the parts I understood, at least, meaning maybe one sentence in twenty."

This book was terrible. I can't tell you what it was about because it seemed to be about nothing. Pseudo-intellectual drivel. Pass on this one.