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hristiyanak's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
gintare_si's review against another edition
5.0
'The Son Of Man' by Jean-Baptiste Del Amo, beautifully translated by Frank Wynne, is my first ever ARC (from NetGalley, published by Fitzcarraldo Editions), which I am truly grateful for and was clearly extremely excited to read.
My excitement soon turned to great pleasure of indulging in meticulously crafted prose - a story of a nameless family, the mother, the son and the father, who has been absent for six years of a nine year old's life and suddenly reappeared, determined to win them back. Questions start to rise together with the feeling of unease, the suspense, as they meet again, leave the town, travel to a remote mountain to live in an unfinished house among nettles and tall pines, Les Roches. The story, told from perspectives of all three, paces slowly, until unfolds, plentiful of astounding descriptions by someone who loves to observe and sees, and depicts every detail with such accuracy and beauty the novel becomes better than a movie: you see it too, you sense it, you smell it, you feel - from the drone views of the surroundings to an eye of an animal, to a dream of a child.
The beginning in prehistoric times, a seemingly unrelated chapter, depicts the same themes found throughout the story, which takes you back and forth in time, from the new place to the old one, before and after, here and there. A rather simple plot with masterful use of language makes you reflect and think deeply about the cycle of life, love, temporariness, brutality, insignificance, generations and generational traumas, loss, relationships of men and sons and women, life in the world and in nature, which almost becomes a separate character itself - all intertwined.
In a great work of literary fiction I look for means of expression, the same things discussed and talked about a myriad times told in a different way. And all of it is found in abundance in this brilliant read.
My excitement soon turned to great pleasure of indulging in meticulously crafted prose - a story of a nameless family, the mother, the son and the father, who has been absent for six years of a nine year old's life and suddenly reappeared, determined to win them back. Questions start to rise together with the feeling of unease, the suspense, as they meet again, leave the town, travel to a remote mountain to live in an unfinished house among nettles and tall pines, Les Roches. The story, told from perspectives of all three, paces slowly, until unfolds, plentiful of astounding descriptions by someone who loves to observe and sees, and depicts every detail with such accuracy and beauty the novel becomes better than a movie: you see it too, you sense it, you smell it, you feel - from the drone views of the surroundings to an eye of an animal, to a dream of a child.
The beginning in prehistoric times, a seemingly unrelated chapter, depicts the same themes found throughout the story, which takes you back and forth in time, from the new place to the old one, before and after, here and there. A rather simple plot with masterful use of language makes you reflect and think deeply about the cycle of life, love, temporariness, brutality, insignificance, generations and generational traumas, loss, relationships of men and sons and women, life in the world and in nature, which almost becomes a separate character itself - all intertwined.
In a great work of literary fiction I look for means of expression, the same things discussed and talked about a myriad times told in a different way. And all of it is found in abundance in this brilliant read.
fher1286's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
davethescot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
chiel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I found this a challenging read at times due to the unrelenting misery. The prose was beautiful though and the descriptions of surroundings stood in amazing contrast with the bleak story.
danielsmith1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.0
tonycarr72's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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
3.75
reidfrancis's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
benconnolly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-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
3.5
og_rincewind's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0