I devoured this piece of writing.

The stream-of-consciousness writing style truly captivated me. It was like a wild river flowing freely, carrying me along with its thoughts and emotions.

The characters, too, were absolutely fascinating. Each one had their own unique quirks and personalities that made them come alive on the page.

I have this distinct feeling that this particular work is going to stay with me for a long while. It has left an indelible mark on my mind and heart.

I can't stop thinking about the story and the characters, and I keep going back to certain passages to re-read and soak in the beauty of the language.

It's rare to come across a piece of writing that has such a profound impact on me, but this one definitely has.

I can't wait to see what else the author has in store for us.

4.5! This is truly comfort food for my stay here in Winnipeg.

Toews has an amazing ability to capture the subtleties of the human condition with a touch of humour. It's these kinds of books that make me fall in love with reading all over again.

The way she portrays the characters and their emotions is so vivid and relatable. You can't help but get drawn into their world and feel every up and down with them.

Each page is filled with engaging stories and thought-provoking moments that make you reflect on your own life. It's like a warm embrace on a cold winter's day, or a delicious meal that satisfies your soul.

Whether you're a seasoned reader or just starting out, this book is a must-read. It will leave you with a smile on your face and a heart full of warmth.

So, if you're looking for a great book to escape into, look no further than Toews' latest masterpiece. You won't be disappointed!

A confused stream of consciousness, that of a dazed sixteen-year-old belonging to the Mennonite community in East Village, Canada. Nomi Nickel has been left alone with her father after her sister and mother disappeared (the mother under mysterious circumstances, among other things. Nomi hopes that she is traveling the world, free from the community life, but then why did she find her passport in a drawer?), and her life seems to have no other prospect but to go and work at the chicken slaughterhouse. Nomi is constantly numbed by the smoke, the pain, and life. Hers is an attempt to escape the community by behaving in the worst possible way, perhaps in the hope of being "excommunicated" or driven away somehow.

The sentence "Having seasickness at sea is not the same as having homesickness at home" seems to hint at the different kinds of discomforts and longings that Nomi experiences. She is not just physically affected by the harshness of her environment (the smoke, the work at the slaughterhouse), but also emotionally and spiritually. The community that was supposed to be her home now feels like a prison, and she is desperate to break free. Yet, at the same time, she may also be longing for the sense of belonging and security that the community once provided. This internal conflict adds another layer of complexity to her character and her story.

It took me a while to truly immerse myself in this story.

It is told through the voice and perspective of Nomi, a teenage girl growing up in a small Mennonite town in Canada.

She spends time with her boyfriend, faces difficulties at school, and engages in activities like smoking pot and drinking with a group of local teenagers.

She also has brief interactions with various townspeople.

As the reader witnesses these interactions, we begin to understand that Nomi is a kind and intelligent young woman.

She is trying hard to fit in while dealing with the breakdown of her family.

Her older sister, whom she admires, runs off with her boyfriend, and then her mother leaves too.

She is left with a father who is grieving and conflicted.

He loves her but is also going through his own struggles.

I found the ending to be both satisfying and surprisingly hopeful.

I could identify with some of Nomi's experiences as a teenage girl, and it was cathartic for me in a way.

I almost gave up on this book, but I'm so glad I didn't.

It is well-written, and I truly appreciated the message it传达.

I really have a strong aversion to child or teenage protagonists. I can only recall a very limited number of books where this concept was compelling enough to meet my expectations. Simultaneously, I have a particular interest in highly dysfunctional families and religious oppression. I would argue that these two factors sort of counterbalanced each other, thereby giving my encounter with “A Complicated Kindness” rather favorable odds.

Instead of a straightforward, linear plot, this story about a sixteen-year-old girl who lives with her father (after her mother and sister have abandoned them) in a secluded religious community offers a series of fragmented glimpses and hints of past and present happenings. This patchwork of details and memories constructs a vivid and intense image of the family, yet interestingly, not of the narrator herself. Frequently, I pondered whether the inconsistent, disjointed, and overall basic表达方式 could sustain an entire novel. The answer is an unequivocal yes. In fact, it's even more than that: The phrasing is one of the book's greatest strengths precisely because Nomi, the protagonist, could scarcely have expressed herself in any other way. So here you have the portrayal of the protagonist without a traditional portrayal.

There is a comical drama inherent in the story. Minor events seem to be magnified out of proportion, a tremor is equated to a cataclysm, and there are more loose ends than neatly tied threads. Yes, the story has an exaggerated teenage atmosphere that aligns with its teenage perspective. Nevertheless, there are also events and situations that are far too arduous for anyone to manage alone. But interwoven within all of this are the subtle and delicate gems of this novel, its diamonds amidst the prairie dust, so to speak: the mostly witnessed circumstances and the mostly reconstructed motives for the mother's and the sister's departures. Those few sentences capture the essence of human relationships and a tragic and unfortunate family, yet far less dysfunctional than many that I am acquainted with.

I did hope for a more comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the religious community, but the novel's specific perspective could hardly provide that while still maintaining its credibility. However, it does present a constellation of which the mother is perhaps the most powerful symbol: an emotional conflict intense enough to create your own personal Greek tragedy and your own tragic downfall, regardless of conduct and outcome.

I truly have no idea how this managed to win any awards whatsoever.

If one desires to know what occurs within the book, it is all neatly summarized in approximately three pages towards the end.

It seems as if the author unearthed all her diaries forty years into her life and determined that they would make a wonderful addition to a book.

Day after day of seemingly senseless events taking place and her thoughts regarding it all.

I deeply regret having wasted any time reading it.

Then again, isn't that the essence of classic literature - day after day of mindless details?

Perhaps that is precisely why it received all the prizes....

Maybe there is a hidden charm or deeper meaning within those mundane details that eludes my understanding.

Or perhaps it is the way the author weaves those details together that creates a unique tapestry of life.

Nevertheless, for me, this book failed to capture my interest and left me feeling disappointed.

I don't typically have an appreciation for a young narrator. However, Nomi managed to draw me in right away with her sarcastic observations and dry sense of humor. Just like most teenagers in the 1970s or 1980s, she rebels against the limitations of her small town. The moral and social restrictions that seem senseless to her, as well as the opinion that most adults are hypocrites, drive her to rebel.

Living in a Mennonite town with her eccentric yet kind father, after her rebellious older sister and then her free-spirited mother leave town, Nomi is torn by conflicting emotions. She numbs these emotions with alcohol, drugs, and undifferentiated anger. I am extremely grateful that Toews kept this novel to under 250 pages. Any longer, and that anger would have crossed over into the realm of being irritating.

I felt that the attempt at creating a poignant ending actually weakened the overall impact of the story. It seemed a bit forced and didn't quite fit with the tone and style that had been established throughout the novel. Nevertheless, despite these minor flaws, the novel still managed to engage me and keep me interested until the very end.

Sono così facili i rapporti umani, quando bisogna solo cercare di reggersi in piedi.

Human relationships can seem so easy when all one has to do is try to stand on one's own feet. However, in "A Complicated Kindness," Miriam Toews presents a much more complex and nuanced exploration of human nature and relationships.

The story follows the tumultuous and unstable adolescence of a Mennonite girl. Her family has been shattered by the iron-fisted regime of their small, historic village in Canada. Toews tells this story in a unique and hybrid form that combines elements of a diary and a chaotic chronological photo album. The result is a vivid and engaging account that is both humorous and poignant.

One of the main themes of the book is the danger of an overly oppressive religion. Toews shows how such a religion can burden not only interpersonal relationships but also the very psyche of an individual. She asks the question: How can a belief system based on repentance, exclusivity, agony, sadness, and rigidity allow a child to grow into a well-adjusted adolescent?

Despite the many challenges and hardships faced by the characters in "A Complicated Kindness," the book ultimately speaks to the power of love. The filial and family love that Toews描绘 is almost boundless, prevailing even over the laws of God in the small, daily actions of the characters. This love exists most vividly when it is distant and intangible, leaving space rather than constricting.

(The three stars are because it is all very beautiful, but repetitive.)

I truly relished this book!

Even now, I remain uncertain if I was meant to find it as uproariously funny as I did. However, I vividly recall never having laughed out loud so frequently while reading a book before.

I adored Nomi's character. The manner in which she recounted her story was captivating. Her goofiness and awkwardness added a charming touch. Her insights into the people and the world around her were remarkable. The way she spoke her mind with such candor was refreshing.

Her strange digressions of thought about random things that seemingly had no connection to anything were both endearing and entertaining. And her exaggerations were hilarious. (She had to play center field four hundred miles away from the action. You mean someone else besides me likes to exaggerate by using random ridiculous numbers for things?!?).

I also took a great liking to the writing style. It truly made me feel as if I was delving deep into her mind rather than simply perusing a book.

This is an outstanding story of a teenager grappling with the challenges of understanding and coping with herself, the world around her, and her religion.

It is a tale that will surely resonate with many readers and leave them with a sense of warmth and inspiration.

I was truly and deeply moved by this book, and I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.

Although I didn't have exactly the same experiences as the protagonist, Nomi, I still felt a powerful connection to her. Growing up in a conservative evangelical environment myself, I also faced the challenges of struggling to discover my true self during my teenage years and into my 20s.

I understand that the book may not provide an abundance of details, and Nomi's voice might leave numerous gaps, which could potentially disappoint some readers. However, I was actually quite captivated by this very aspect. It made me feel as if I was not getting a complete and comprehensive picture of her story but rather just an impression of her emotions during this crucial period of her life.

Moreover, I sensed a profound sadness or longing in the writing, which was expressed in subtle ways. It didn't require a dramatic revelation to have an impact on me. Sometimes, a short and dismissive answer to a question or the choice of words in Nomi's inner monologue was sufficient to strike a chord deep within me.

The ambiguity in the ending was absolutely perfect. For a story as emotionally complex as Nomi's, a neat and happy ending would have undermined its authenticity and power.

Miriam Toews delves deep into the mysterious world of Canadian Mennonite teens in a rather shocking expose. It turns out they have their own secrets and vices. Well, at least when it comes to pot. You might think we live in a civilized society, but women are reporting that their first experiences are often still "disappointing." I really don't know what we can do about that. Maybe start giving teenage boys vibrating cock rings?

Anyway, this book can be filed under "Semi-autobiographical memoirs dispatched from unusual situations." This is a wide and fruitful genre. They come in various tones, from "harrowing" to "harrowing but funny." And this one is definitely on the funnier side.

It's super funny. Toews approaches everything from a unique angle, constantly finding perspectives you never thought of. Her protagonist, Nomi Nickles, is the kind of person who might have an imaginary friend who hates her. Later, she debates going on the pill, wondering, "I lay there imagining what it would be like to have another human being growing inside me. Would it panic?" In a world where pregnancy is so often discussed, I've never heard that question before.

"Kids," she says. "The way they react to everything like they're alive."

The story unfolds in two timelines, both before and after the disappearance of Nomi's older sister and mother. Nomi is a tween in the first and a teen in the second. There's a bit of a mystery: where did they go, why, and why didn't they take Nomi or her father with them? The two remaining Nickles struggle to carry on. He wears a lot of ties. She cooks her way through the alphabet. Tonight it's Minestrone and Meatballs. She tries to understand her mother's decision, realizing, "There was something seething away inside of her, something fierce and unpredictable, like a saw in a birthday cake." They're Mennonites, a group I was only vaguely aware of. They seem similar to the Amish but even weirder. Their life options seem limited to being shunned or working in chicken slaughterhouses.

She tells this perfect story: her family goes fishing, takes shelter on an island during a rainstorm, and their boat floats away. They're trapped, and it feels like an adventure. They make Swiss Family Robinson jokes. When the rain stops, they manage to build a fire. Suddenly, their boat comes bobbing back. The unspoken truth is that everyone is a little disappointed. Intellectually, one knows that adventures aren't as fun in real life as they are in books. But the dream of an exciting adventure, like a Swiss Family Robinson experience, a club in the East Village with Lou Reed, or a first time that isn't disappointing, is hard to give up, especially when reality is so dull. The chicken slaughterhouse looms large, and anything seems preferable.

This is an absolute goddamn masterpiece. It is truly a work of art that leaves one in awe.

Anyone who has a deep affection for Catcher in the Rye is bound to love this even more passionately. The beauty and power of this piece are simply stunning.

Toews, the author, shows an incredible talent on every single page. Her words seem to murder in the most captivating way, drawing the reader in and holding their attention hostage.

It is a literary gem that demands to be read and cherished. The story unfolds with such grace and intensity that it is impossible to put down.

Every sentence is carefully crafted, every word chosen with precision. Toews has created a world that is both familiar and yet completely unique.

This is a work that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page, leaving you with a sense of wonder and a desire to explore it further.