Astonishing Splashes of Colour
by Clare Morrall
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 148)
Read in August, 2008
I first read this book in 2003 and loved it.
It is one of my very favorites.
This summer I read the author's second novel. I enjoyed it a lot but it is no where near as good as her 'booker short listed' Splashes.
Splashes has so much more depth! It is a book about memory. How we remember, why, what we add to our memories, what we take away. What do we twist? And what memory means to...more
It is one of my very favorites.
This summer I read the author's second novel. I enjoyed it a lot but it is no where near as good as her 'booker short listed' Splashes.
Splashes has so much more depth! It is a book about memory. How we remember, why, what we add to our memories, what we take away. What do we twist? And what memory means to...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone
It's so good! It's the kind of book in which I get fully engaged with the character that I miss her when the book is finished. I love the way the author makes the character lovable. I don't know really how to explain it. With Good in Bed, I had many times where I disliked the main character for her character flaws and weaknesses. I judged her. In Colour, I never ever felt that way. I wanted to help the other characters understand the protaganist and not judge her. The novel swallows you ...more
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Focuses on a motherless child/childless mother from a big but emotionally distant family. References to Peter Pan make a rather crass analogy. She is also a synaesthete (though oddly that thread fizzles out as the plot becomes more interesting), and has very little social/self awareness of the consequences of her actions on others. You never really understand any of the characters - and especially not why James loves her. Perhaps that is a deliberate parallel with how little any of the character...more
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Read in March, 2004
I absolutely ADORED this book. The story of a young woman struggling to define her
identity among highly unusual circumstances. Beautifully written, a story
that draws you in completely, wonderfully crafted three-dimensional
characters, settings that live and breathe all on their own. Virtually
flawless.
A favourite passage (one of many): "Most couples I know blend and merge when
they marry, take each other's colours and become stronger....James and I
don't seem to have worked out ...more
identity among highly unusual circumstances. Beautifully written, a story
that draws you in completely, wonderfully crafted three-dimensional
characters, settings that live and breathe all on their own. Virtually
flawless.
A favourite passage (one of many): "Most couples I know blend and merge when
they marry, take each other's colours and become stronger....James and I
don't seem to have worked out ...more
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Read in January, 2007
The cover of this book drew me in. It really stands out among the other books of the same subject manner. The story revolves around Kitty, who is a childlike woman living next door to her husband, who rides in circles for hours on the city bus and sees the world as a kaleidoscope of colors. You watch as she unravels her reality & her fantasy worlds, which have become intertwined. There are a few surprising plot twists, which, had I not been so engrossed with the novel, I may have seen coming...more
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Read in August, 2007
This book started out quite well, however, what made it great in the beginning was quickly abandoned towards the end. It is the story of a woman unravelling, mentally and emotionally, after the loss of her unborn child. The subtle details and insights into Kitty's breakdown are what make the book valuable; eloquent. But as the story nears the end, this profoundity is pawned off for overly-dramatic plot twists and a dangerously near-to-Hollywood-type ending.
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Read in November, 2007
This book was quite a ride of twists and turns and one that I didn't figure out what was going to happen next. The main character was very strong, quirky...you could really connect to what she was thinking and seeing. It's not an "uplifting" book but definitely not violent or dark. I would recommend it for those looking for a strong story and character. It's a Man Booker Prize winner from England.
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This is a weird novel about a woman who has a strange marriage (her husband lives next door). The woman, Kitty, also had a miscarriage and is finding out some family secrets. The combination of all of these things makes her crazy. Also, Kitty is a "synaesthete" which means that she sees things like numbers or people as having a certain color.
Weird...but it was an okay book.
Weird...but it was an okay book.
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Read in March, 2008
I got completely absorbed in this book. The majority of the story was heartbreaking and I felt the main character's pain as she was experiencing it. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could, because of a few plot points that I felt were a little contrived -- but that didn't stop me from reading and thoroughly enjoying this excellent story.
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Mostly I enjoyed this book. It was a nice vacation read. I think I expected something slightly different. In the end, I couldn't get a full sense of the protagonist and needed a fuller picture of her. A solid book that I would suggest to others.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in January, 2008
recommended to Monica by:
Ian bought it and Ed from Unabridged pushed me to read it
I enjoyed this book, the colors, the characters, etc. It started out quirky, but the unraveling scared me towards the end, and I was almost racing to the last page in afraid of what I'd find
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I loved this book and Clare Morrall did such a good job telling this story. I felt so strongly for the main character that I actually felt her pain while reading it. An excellent book.
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
people who want to be depressed
A story of a dysfunctional family with a very depressed and unbalanced woman at it's centre.
Best described in three words-
de
press
ing.
Best described in three words-
de
press
ing.
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Read in June, 2006
beautifully written, I liked the complexity of the characters and the way the story unfolds.
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I felt very strongly for the main character... when she was sad, I was sad for her!!
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Read in August, 2007
This made me cry.
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