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challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Mental illness
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An unusual book, that's pretty dark and depressing, with somewhat outdated themes. It's literary fiction so they don't always make much sense, but I could still appreciate the artistry of the writing, and there were some really notable and thought provoking philosophical sentences said by the protagonist.
The book is much more interesting when you know the story of the author's life. It felt like I was really listening to the thoughts of the author, not the MC.
I listened to the Spotify audiobook which was excellently read, but is why I don't have any highlights to share.
The book is much more interesting when you know the story of the author's life. It felt like I was really listening to the thoughts of the author, not the MC.
I listened to the Spotify audiobook which was excellently read, but is why I don't have any highlights to share.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Incest, Mental illness, Rape
Minor: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Pregnancy
challenging
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Someone said this book was a trip, and yes, it was just that.
"I was conscious of a relationship between me and the pulsation of nature, between me and the profound night which had descended upon my spirit. This silence is a language which we do not understand. My head began to swim in a kind of intoxication."
There were so many insanely beautiful I think I highlighted half of the book.
Although I not vibe with the misogyny.
"I was conscious of a relationship between me and the pulsation of nature, between me and the profound night which had descended upon my spirit. This silence is a language which we do not understand. My head began to swim in a kind of intoxication."
There were so many insanely beautiful I think I highlighted half of the book.
Although I not vibe with the misogyny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Murder
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Murder
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Incest
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Since I restarted reading, I have been searching for this book, or rather, one much like it. The Blind Owl succeeds in all three aspects of great fiction--the story is gripping and interesting, the themes are poignant and relevant, and the prose is astounding and powerful. It's hard to look at this story and truly unpack it and find each little piece.
Even in its presentation, the book seeks to alienate and confuse the reader--there are five chapters, but only really 2 and 4 share 90% of the written text. The other three are short set pieces and framing devices. By the end of both the core chapters, Hadeyat starts to repeat passages of text, forcing the reader to go back and question whether they've read--and suddenly you realize you're going insane as you read the book, as reading the text itself simulates the same descent of insanity as the reader. The dramatic irony thickens in Chapter 4 when you see images repeat themselves in such a mundane fashion, and they are paced so well throughout the story you forget that they are coming--cypress trees, bone-handled knives, laughing so hard you get goosebumps--these moments all sing together in harmony, terrorizing the reader completely while the character himself exists in total unawareness.
Even in its presentation, the book seeks to alienate and confuse the reader--there are five chapters, but only really 2 and 4 share 90% of the written text. The other three are short set pieces and framing devices. By the end of both the core chapters, Hadeyat starts to repeat passages of text, forcing the reader to go back and question whether they've read--and suddenly you realize you're going insane as you read the book, as reading the text itself simulates the same descent of insanity as the reader. The dramatic irony thickens in Chapter 4 when you see images repeat themselves in such a mundane fashion, and they are paced so well throughout the story you forget that they are coming--cypress trees, bone-handled knives, laughing so hard you get goosebumps--these moments all sing together in harmony, terrorizing the reader completely while the character himself exists in total unawareness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Murder
Minor: Misogyny, Religious bigotry
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
I didn’t really get this. I had a general idea of what took place at the end, and I really liked the repeated imagery since it helped track the character’s progression into madness, but I have no idea what the narrative was about.
I very much want to try revisiting this after I’ve read some interpretations of it, and historically and culturally contextualized it
I very much want to try revisiting this after I’ve read some interpretations of it, and historically and culturally contextualized it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Murder
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder