I really hate giving negative reviews, so I'd like to start this one by saying that I'm sure a lot of people would really enjoy this book. Some parts of the writing were so incredibly beautiful (for example- 'her body becomes hot, becomes molten, changes state, cools and reforms into a shape that is similar- but not identical- to the one it had a few second ago') and I believe that Joe Heap is a very talented author. However, I unfortunately didn't enjoy this book at all.
Although the characters were very in-depth and individual, I really struggled to empathise with any of them. I desperately wanted to grow attached to the characters and join them on their emotional journeys, but I just found myself desperate for the story to progress and, eventually, end. The two protagonists, Kate and Nova, both have very intense struggles that I feel the author dealt with sensitively and impressively. Kate has suffered head trauma and is in an abusive relationship, unsure of her own sexuality and emotions, and Nova is undergoing the process of learning to see after a lifetime of blindness. It is an incredibly unique story, but I personally didn't find myself to be interested in it.
Much of the storyline seemed either repetitive or mildly unnecessary to me and I was unsure for a while what exactly the story was; however, I'm sure this is only because I wasn't invested at all in its progression. I thus believe that, if you find yourself being drawn in by the blurb and fascinated by the concept, this may be the book for you; it simply wasn't for me.
It is disappointing that I didn't enjoy this novel, but I would be willing to attempt some of the author's other work, as Joe Heap's writing, with a story that is more captivating, could be truly impressive.
Although the characters were very in-depth and individual, I really struggled to empathise with any of them. I desperately wanted to grow attached to the characters and join them on their emotional journeys, but I just found myself desperate for the story to progress and, eventually, end. The two protagonists, Kate and Nova, both have very intense struggles that I feel the author dealt with sensitively and impressively. Kate has suffered head trauma and is in an abusive relationship, unsure of her own sexuality and emotions, and Nova is undergoing the process of learning to see after a lifetime of blindness. It is an incredibly unique story, but I personally didn't find myself to be interested in it.
Much of the storyline seemed either repetitive or mildly unnecessary to me and I was unsure for a while what exactly the story was; however, I'm sure this is only because I wasn't invested at all in its progression. I thus believe that, if you find yourself being drawn in by the blurb and fascinated by the concept, this may be the book for you; it simply wasn't for me.
It is disappointing that I didn't enjoy this novel, but I would be willing to attempt some of the author's other work, as Joe Heap's writing, with a story that is more captivating, could be truly impressive.