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j e w e l s's Reviews > The Mars Room
The Mars Room
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THREE STARS
Usually, I steer clear of audiobooks that are read by the author. Because....uggggh! Writers should write and actors should read. In this case, I'm so glad I took the chance.
Author Rachel Kushner read her novel aloud in such a sweet, vulnerable and sincere voice that you can't help but fall in love with her. Ironically, the story she is reading is harsh, unblinking and completely unsentimental. The contrast definitely works.
I wish I could say I fell in love with the book, but I didn't. The story zigzags all over the place--all random thoughts followed through on a pages long tangent. The only narrative I cared about was Romy Hall's. How I wish it was just Romy's story, before and after prison. It was annoying to me when we had to leave Romy, which was way too often.
The novel is a bleak, despairing look at modern American society-- especially our prison system and the women forced to survive behind the barbed wire and concrete. Unlike Orange Is the New Black, there is very little humor. A kind of preachy message, the stories are slammed down your throat, one after another, with no time to digest or even reach for air. I found it exhausting and depressing.
A Man Booker finalist, it is a fantastic work of art and I don't regret taking it on. I just didn't connect to it as much as I wanted to. A similar author, Tommy Orange, delivered a stronger gut punch with THERE THERE.
Usually, I steer clear of audiobooks that are read by the author. Because....uggggh! Writers should write and actors should read. In this case, I'm so glad I took the chance.
Author Rachel Kushner read her novel aloud in such a sweet, vulnerable and sincere voice that you can't help but fall in love with her. Ironically, the story she is reading is harsh, unblinking and completely unsentimental. The contrast definitely works.
I wish I could say I fell in love with the book, but I didn't. The story zigzags all over the place--all random thoughts followed through on a pages long tangent. The only narrative I cared about was Romy Hall's. How I wish it was just Romy's story, before and after prison. It was annoying to me when we had to leave Romy, which was way too often.
The novel is a bleak, despairing look at modern American society-- especially our prison system and the women forced to survive behind the barbed wire and concrete. Unlike Orange Is the New Black, there is very little humor. A kind of preachy message, the stories are slammed down your throat, one after another, with no time to digest or even reach for air. I found it exhausting and depressing.
A Man Booker finalist, it is a fantastic work of art and I don't regret taking it on. I just didn't connect to it as much as I wanted to. A similar author, Tommy Orange, delivered a stronger gut punch with THERE THERE.
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Quotes j e w e l s Liked
“The thing is you keep existing whether you have a plan to do so or not, until you don’t exist, and then your plans are meaningless.”
― The Mars Room
― The Mars Room
Reading Progress
December 13, 2018
– Shelved
January 6, 2019
–
Started Reading
January 20, 2019
–
Finished Reading
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message 1:
by
Zoria
(new)
Jan 20, 2019 09:01PM
Sorry it didn’t work for you. As for audiobooks read by authors, I really like how Neil Gaiman does it
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You are not the only “trusted” reviewer who had trouble connecting, so I shall be passing on this one, but as always, fantastic review!
Sorry it wasn’t enjoyable for you. Although it is nice to read a review that rings so true for me. I’ve been picking up and putting down this book since I excitedly opened it from book of the month club (nearly a year ago!). I’m about halfway through now, having reread the first 100 pages twice, and just cannot connect. Trying to get through this book - while interesting - feels more like self-assigned homework rather than something I look forward to each day.
Thank you for your review! Maybe I would enjoy it more if I were listening to it? Imagining Romy with a shred of compassion or vulnerability is mind boggling for me.
Sorry you didn't connect with this one Jewels, hoe your next one is better 🌺
Kayleah wrote: "Sorry it wasn’t enjoyable for you. Although it is nice to read a review that rings so true for me. I’ve been picking up and putting down this book since I excitedly opened it from book of the mon..."
haaha Kayleah! I can identify with your self-assigned homework comment! I admit to committing myself to read a few award winning novels every year-and I don't always enjoy it. I would highly recommend the audio version of THE MARS ROOM, if you are really wanting to get through it!
Jayme wrote: "You are not the only “trusted” reviewer who had trouble connecting, so I shall be passing on this one, but as always, fantastic review!"thank you, Jayme! yeah, I can't really recommend this one!
Zoria wrote: "Sorry it didn’t work for you. As for audiobooks read by authors, I really like how Neil Gaiman does it"ohhh, interesting! Thanks, Zoria- I'm not the biggest Gaiman fan, but I would try one of his on audio!
I liked it better than you but I agree with your complaints: it was all over the place, and I wanted to stick with Romy. I didn’t take it as a message book though. Great review!
