Cecily’s review of Flesh > Likes and Comments

Interesting!

Misha wrote: "Interesting!"

It was! Hard to describe, but I'm glad I read it.

You’ve definitely piqued my interest.

Antoinette wrote: "You’ve definitely piqued my interest."

Definitely worth trying, but although I want authors to have good remuneration, I think this may be better to try, by library, than buy.

Great review. I’m impressed by the ‘one sitting’ part as well.

I have seen some unfavourable reviews Cecily and your is the first positive one!

You've convinced me to put this one on my TBR. I've read so many mixed reviews about it, but your thoughts about make me feel that I would really like it. Fabulous review, Cecily!

Dmitri wrote: "Great review. I’m impressed by the ‘one sitting’ part as well."

It took me by surprise, too. I delayed our evening meal by nearly an hour so I could finish it first!

David wrote: "I have seen some unfavourable reviews Cecily and your is the first positive one!"

I haven't yet looked at other GR reviews. I wonder if some of them abandoned it in, or shortly after, the first chapter.

I had sympathy for Istvan (especially as teenager), but didn't much like him. I didn't like the dialogue-heavy writing. Some of the sex had more detail than felt necessary. And yet I couldn't put it down.

I always take notes when I read, but as I read the first chapter, on and off, during a shift in the local library, I treated it as a sampler. Then, when I got home and picked it up again... I just carried on, still without making notes. More immediate and immersive, and a shorter review than usual. I'm not sure if I'll read other books that way or not.

Cecily, I liked it too. My wife recommended it.

Enjoyed your review Cecily. Well done.

Interesting counterpoint to several poor reviews I have seen. Marked this up to a maybe - if I can find it secondhand I will try it out.

K wrote: "You've convinced me to put this one on my TBR. I've read so many mixed reviews about it..."

Thanks, but read with caution, and if you don't enjoy the first chapter, read a little more, to see if you get hooked.

Brad wrote: "Cecily, I liked it too. My wife recommended it."

We seem to be in a minority.

Laura wrote: "Enjoyed your review Cecily. Well done."

Thanks, Laura.

Ray wrote: "Interesting counterpoint to several poor reviews I have seen. Marked this up to a maybe - if I can find it secondhand I will try it out."

Caution advised, so second-hand, or library, is your best bet. I hope you find it worthwhile.

What a delightfully nuanced review, Cecily. Thank you

One sitting is impressive! I was already intrigued because of a favorable review by another GR friend. Yours confirmed that I do want to read it. Thanks!

H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov wrote: "What a delightfully nuanced review, Cecily. Thank you"

Thank you, H. I find it tricky to explain how it took hold of me yesterday, but I'm glad you got the gist.

Richard wrote: "One sitting is impressive! I was already intrigued because of a favorable review by another GR friend. Yours confirmed that I do want to read it. Thanks!"

It's mostly short sentences, with simple vocabulary, so it's easy to read quickly, and probably the best way to approach it. Don't ignore the unfavourable reviews though, as it is a book I'd hesitate to suggest to anyone, specifically. Reading a range of opinions will give you a firmer idea which camp you're likely to land in.

I prefer to read reviews after I have read a book so as not to let the impressions of others influence me too much. Reading others’ reviews after I have finished sometimes helps me to clarify my own thoughts. Or introduces me to an element I had not considered…especially if they are thoughtful, in depth reviews like yours.

Ok, I had my doubts but secretly thought this novel might be for me. You have convinced me! Thank you.

Richard wrote: "I prefer to read reviews after I have read a book so as not to let the impressions of others influence me too much..."

Understandable. I read reviews of books I've not yet read with caution, but most of my friends here avoid spoilers, or else hide them. If I do go on to read a book, I always leave enough time that I don't remember any details.

Judy wrote: "Ok, I had my doubts but secretly thought this novel might be for me. You have convinced me! Thank you."

I hope it's the right decision for you, and I hope to read your thoughts in due course.

Thanks Cecily for your review and reading suggestions. I have this in my potential reading queue, but was a bit on the fence about it. Your comments are encouraging, and I am an adherent to the “50 page” test before abandoning a book - which, I assume, would get me past the first chapter.

Ken wrote: "Thanks Cecily for your review and reading suggestions... I am an adherent to the “50 page” test before abandoning a book - which, I assume, would get me past the first chapter.."

Yep. Reading to page 50 will take you to roughly half way through chapter 2.

Great review.
Compelling perfectly describes the novel

I too was hesitant about this one but your review has prompted me to give it a try, Cecily!

Stephen wrote: "Great review.
Compelling perfectly describes the novel"

Thank you. And your mention (in your review) of sparse prose is important, too.

Mary wrote: "I too was hesitant about this one but your review has prompted me to give it a try, Cecily!"

I hope you don't regret it!

Loved this book also. 5 stars from me as well.

Ali wrote: "Loved this book also. 5 stars from me as well."

For me, "loved" is not quite the right word, but I'm really glad I read it.

gosh Cecily I had decided to skip this, it sounds so fraught and too similar to a few of the more disturbing reads I have been swept into recently ( Vladimir, The Occupation trilogy most recent) but you are persuasive and I will put myself on the library list.

Magdelanye wrote: "gosh Cecily I had decided to skip this, it sounds so fraught and too similar to a few of the more disturbing reads..."

Yes, library is definitely the best bet. I hope you find it worth the risk, but if you don't enjoy it, no worries. Just don't stop reading because of the first chapter.

there is a long waitlist for this (for once I'm okay with that} but I will be sure to remember your advice. And maybe you would like Vladimir

Magdelanye wrote: "... And maybe you would like Vladimir"

Thanks, but is Vladimir a character or author?
(I tried searching for Vladimir, The Occupation trilogy, but not success.)

I was more ambivalent than you, but can see its appeal, even though I lean more toward "ordinary" than "extra." Hamlet? I missed it. Were all the women so many Ophelias?

Ken wrote: "... Hamlet? I missed it. Were all the women so many Ophelias?"

I don't think Ophelia is a good fit, but there were at least two mentions of the play, and none of anything else, so I thought of it in a looser sense of betrayal, abuse of power loss, and madness.