Book Review: Reproduction by Ian Williams
Reproduction by Ian Williams, winner of the 2019 Giller Prize is a quirky read. Aside from this book being PAINFULLY LONG, I enjoyed it. It plays with lots of things: format, timelines, even phrasing. That being said, I’m a reader who doesn’t like freaky-deaky experimentation in my books, but I still found this story readable. Plus I love Ian Wiliams himself, I once attended an event where he spoke and it was fantastic.
There are a few things that will trip you up in this book, but it doesn’t slow down the writing to a problematic pace; it will divert your attention for a short while, but you will easily hit your rhythm again, and my reading rhythm is deathly important to me. Check out my booktube review below for more information on my love/hate relationship with this one. And congratulations to Ian!!!
Did you know that using the phrase “freaky-deaky” means you are 100% turning into your parents? :D I think you would hate the book I just finished listening to called Made for Love. My review went up Monday, and I’m wondering if the plot synopsis scared people off!
haha yes, I know, Freaky-Deaky is sort of my go-to these days so I’m definitely getting older
I pretty much agree with you – long but readable, fascinating structure if you’re into that but also just a good story. Very well written, and surprisingly funny. Army, especially!
I know! Army was hilarious
Well, you did an excellent job of trying to sell this one, but my resistance is unshakeable! I hate, hate, hate, all those quirky things like superscript words inserted and so on, so this would drive me mad. Haha – but yes, I’m sure poor future students will be forced to dissect it to pieces. Suffering is good for the soul… ;)
And! This just won the giller earlier this week hahah but generally I hate that stuff too, it’s a detractor for me