by Salena Godden
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
Let's start with a couple things: this is not a novel, story or even really a narrative of any kind. Second, I skimmed the last half hoping for some semblance of an "ah-ha, I get it" moment; but sadly it never materialized.
I'm not sure what exactly Salena Godden was going for but it doesn't work for me. In Mrs Death Misses Death there are poems, songs, Q/A 'interviews', and odd ramblings/rantings without any real purpose except one. To make you feel bad about being alive. I actually the think the intent that Godden meant was to make people appreciate being alive (or at least the last few pages of the book scream this at the reader) but instead I just felt sad at how many ways people can tragically die (seriously at least 100 ways over history are discussed here, almost all tragic or horrific) and the constant nagging reminder that we all die. Maybe it's just me, maybe it's the times (2 years into the Covid pandemic) but I am just not in need of the reminder that we all die. I'm painfully aware thanks.
I believe this was supposed to be a unique, powerful 'story' told partially by the character of Death herself (yes a woman), and by a confusing character named Wolf. We get a couple other random commentary chapters thrown in for good measure but mostly it's about Wolf's struggles with mental health and the idea of why we live; and Death's remorse at having to take lives (plus some extensive comments on when people are 'misses' or nearly die). There could have maybe been a timeline set-up here that was manageable or could be followed; but the way the book is written it just gets lost.
I'm sure there will be people out there that love this and think it truly bohemian and adore it's uniqueness. I am not one of those people in this instance.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
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My rating: 1 of 5 stars
Let's start with a couple things: this is not a novel, story or even really a narrative of any kind. Second, I skimmed the last half hoping for some semblance of an "ah-ha, I get it" moment; but sadly it never materialized.
I'm not sure what exactly Salena Godden was going for but it doesn't work for me. In Mrs Death Misses Death there are poems, songs, Q/A 'interviews', and odd ramblings/rantings without any real purpose except one. To make you feel bad about being alive. I actually the think the intent that Godden meant was to make people appreciate being alive (or at least the last few pages of the book scream this at the reader) but instead I just felt sad at how many ways people can tragically die (seriously at least 100 ways over history are discussed here, almost all tragic or horrific) and the constant nagging reminder that we all die. Maybe it's just me, maybe it's the times (2 years into the Covid pandemic) but I am just not in need of the reminder that we all die. I'm painfully aware thanks.
I believe this was supposed to be a unique, powerful 'story' told partially by the character of Death herself (yes a woman), and by a confusing character named Wolf. We get a couple other random commentary chapters thrown in for good measure but mostly it's about Wolf's struggles with mental health and the idea of why we live; and Death's remorse at having to take lives (plus some extensive comments on when people are 'misses' or nearly die). There could have maybe been a timeline set-up here that was manageable or could be followed; but the way the book is written it just gets lost.
I'm sure there will be people out there that love this and think it truly bohemian and adore it's uniqueness. I am not one of those people in this instance.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
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1 comment:
Oh, shame. From the title and blurb I would have thought this very interesting, but probably that's what you fell for as well!
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