Dec 01, 2019lisser rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
This was recommended to me when I stated that I needed a new book to read while at work. This did nothing for me, I cannot really recall what it was about although I recall that there was poetry in it.
Oct 06, 2018Mooseum rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
What I like about Ali Smith's writing is that she has a style of her own. It is poetically evocative of so many things. While reading this book, I thought of Virginia Woolf's Orlando. From hearing Smith on several podcasts, you know that…
Jun 04, 2016TSCPL_ChrisB rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This is an unconventional, character-driven novel. It is comprised of two connected stories, and depending which version you get, the stories may be in the opposing order. How to Be Both is a challenging novel for readers looking for more…
Dec 29, 2015wyenotgo rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
The book is not really classifiable; I've never encountered anything like it before, morphing as it does from poetry to prose to stream-of-consciousness musings, dreamscapes and back. At first glance it appears almost unreadable,…
A very clever and unique novel. Winner of the 2015 Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction.
BklynKalliopiM
Mar 12, 2015BklynKalliopiM rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Incredible novel(s) from Ali Smith. True to the title, How To Be Both compounds layers of narrative into moving themes and poignant writing. Highly recommended for older teens and adults who enjoy realistic fiction with a touch of magic…
Nov 01, 2014mclarjh rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Highly stylized, precious writing, makes the going slow at first, but offset by the large type size and ragged right format. The story is thin, and the characters got no sympathy from me. But the ideas are interesting. The cover art is…
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How to be both