Reviews

Avalon by Nell Zink

_katy_'s review against another edition

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dark funny reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

claire60's review against another edition

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3.0

A clever, perhaps too clever account of a young woman trying to overcome a difficult start in Southern California. The writing tries too hard in places and was at times confusing as the action moved between characters without any clue as to who was speaking. It did make me laugh at times and so I wanted to like it more than I did, found it hard to relate to the main characters, which is always tricky. Useful insight into how things are often not what they seem.

With thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

aliceth0mps0n's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

gbell93's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

baearthur's review against another edition

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2.0

Everyone is a garbage person in this book. Maybe I’m too old to appreciate how smart these 20 year olds think they are. Or maybe that’s the point. Either way, this book just felt full of its own self-importance with no redemption and no point.

nicolelavelle's review against another edition

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challenging funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

I enjoyed the first third of this book the best, the scene-setting, the getting to know the characters. I was like "Oh! Finally, a novel that's not about people going to college for writing." And then... enter the college. But still, it was from the perspective of an unconventional character so I appreciated that. 

introvertsbookclub's review against another edition

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challenging slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

2.5

The novel held so much promise but it was under-developed and failed to mature. There were so many lines and moments that probed into the everyday workings of society and the motivations behind behaviours and were almost revelatory, but they didn’t come together. The ending was abrupt and dissatisfying, and it didn’t reach the emancipation or meaning that the blurb promised.

booksandbrewslondon's review against another edition

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In Avalon, we follow Bran’s attempts to escape her dire upbringing and make a better (??) life for herself - Bran’s journey to ‘basic bitch’.

Avalon had strong characters, but their pseudo-intellectualism and edgelord humour felt a bit over-cooked to me. With that said, some of the ridiculousness and punchy writing kept me engaged. Overall, I felt it missed the mark.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to a digital proof of this novel in exchange for my honest review

katie_greenwinginmymouth's review against another edition

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dark funny fast-paced

3.0

isaconnolly's review against another edition

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3.0

this book took itself too seriously for what it was... found it sooo boring.