I began reading "A Complicated Kindness" on my final day in Barcelona. I fled to Barcelona because of a girl. Additionally, I had been in a grumpy and mopey state for the previous month or so, due to the whole uncertainty regarding my future. So, really, the disappointment with the girl just pushed me over the edge. I thought I could waste my money while moping in Edinburgh, or I could waste it on traveling.

I had never really bothered to read any blurb about the book because I knew John K Samson liked it and that was sufficient for me. It turned out that it was nothing like what I had assumed from the title or the cover.

The story is about Nomi, a sixteen-year-old in a Mennonite community in rural Canada. She lives with her father, who is one of the nicest fictional fathers I've ever come across. Her mother and sister left three years ago and haven't been heard from since. Nomi and her father are both sort of struggling along and both doing rather strange things, which seems like a reasonable response to a messed-up situation in a place where God is more important than family. Nomi is no longer a believer. She drinks, takes drugs, hangs out with her boyfriend, and gets into trouble at school. She has insomnia and often wanders the town at night, doing unpredictable things.

I've always loved teen angst. This book really brings it home because it's not just ordinary teen angst like "my-life-is-so-hard-why-won't-he-notice-me." It captures the despair and frustration of having no control, especially when you're in a place where American tourists come to gawk at how quaint you all are. It's no wonder Nomi is so cynical.

Then there's the religion aspect. When her sister left, Nomi was inconsolable, believing her sister would go to hell. I remember that kind of worry from my own Christian indoctrination. It was really difficult to wrap your head around the idea that people you loved were going to hell, no matter how nice they were, if they didn't accept Jesus as their personal savior.

And I love all the parts where Nomi is just wandering aimlessly and examining the thoughts in her own head. Sometimes she invent games to play to keep herself occupied, like: today I'm going to say goodbye to everyone I see and pretend I'm leaving town.

At the moment, I'm really relating to all her restlessness because I feel like I can't stay in Edinburgh for more than two days without getting twitchy, and I'm not sure what's going on with that. I try being restless in different locations like the bath or the futon, but that's not very exciting, and it's too damn cold to wander the streets. I talked to Alice two days ago. She said: "I just can't be bothered meeting new people these days, you know?" And I was like: "yeah, I know." I mean, pretty much every time I walk down the street I check people out, right? But these days I just think, "oh, you look cool, but you're probably actually really pretentious or boring or vacant or obnoxious or immature or whatever." So there isn't even any point in looking at people anymore.

So that's kind of where I'm at and why I liked this book right now. If you can relate to any of that, maybe it will work for you too.

I’m late to reading “A Complicated Kindness”, by Miriam Toews. I absolutely loved “All My Puny Sorrows” and Toews’ writing style, which is why I was eager to read more of her work.

Set in the 1970s and early 1980s, the novel is narrated by the teen-aged Nomi Nickel. She and her father Ray are trying to navigate their lives in a small Canadian town. They are Mennonites living in a Mennonite community. Nomi’s mother and sister left town three years ago. The novel delves into the universal trials of growing up, as well as the complications and contradictions of faith.

At the beginning, Nomi tells us that she isn’t good at knowing how to end things, and I thought to myself, “Uh-oh, I wonder if that’s a way of setting us up for an unsatisfactory ending.” However, I need not have worried. As I continued to read, I was drawn deeper into Nomi’s world and her story. Toews’ writing is so engaging and her characters so well-developed that I couldn’t put the book down. I was on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what would happen next and how Nomi would ultimately find her way.

My opinion of ‘A Complicated Kindness’ underwent a significant transformation as I delved deeper into its pages.

At the outset, I was somewhat put off by the narrative. It seemed tedious, inundated with teenage angst, and rather convoluted, making it a bit of a struggle to follow. However, as I persisted, this coming-of-age story gradually pulled me in, revealing the raw and unfiltered honesty of its protagonist, Nomi Nickels. She is a confused, bewildered, and yet semi-rebellious character. I describe her as semi-rebellious because, despite her inner turmoil, she retains a certain warmth and respect for her father, Ray. They share a common trait of indecisiveness, which sets off a chain reaction of events that ultimately disrupts their lives. Ray's tendency to defer to the opinions of others proves to be a costly mistake. Nomi, on the other hand, often feels trapped in conversations, unsure whether silence or inane chatter is the better option.

Living in East Village, a fictionalized Mennonite community based on the author's hometown in Steinbach, Manitoba, is no easy feat for Nomi. While tourists flock to witness their supposed simple way of life, Nomi is awakening to the harsh reality that it is all a facade, and appearances can be deceiving.

The kindness within this community is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it offers a sense of inclusiveness and belonging, but on the other, it can be cruel and unforgiving if one fails to meet its standards and expectations. This is vividly illustrated by the fact that Ray and Trudie's first date was a church shunning.

As Nomi's sister, Tash, and her mother, Trudie, both leave home, Nomi and Ray are left to grapple with the complex emotions that accompany abandonment. Nomi is gradually coming to terms with the fact that the kindness she once thought was so comforting is actually preventing her from becoming the person she needs to be in the world. Toews masterfully navigates Nomi's journey, making ‘A Complicated Kindness’ a thought-provoking and engaging read.

I find that most portrayals of confused teenagers tend to depict them as rebellious and rude. However, in this novel, Towes presents a refreshing perspective by depicting Nomi as a nice person. Like most teenagers, Nomi is confused, and this confusion is further compounded by the Mennonite community that surrounds her, as well as the mysterious departures of both her mother and sister.

What I truly loved about Nomi is her honesty with herself. She has the courage to acknowledge what she doesn't know and (sometimes) admits when she does or says stupid things. She also understands that the world around her is not perfect. Despite this understanding, the book or Nomi never becomes too dark or resentful.

I have a deep appreciation for the way that Nomi thinks and, overall, for how this book was written. Although I'm not entirely sure that I loved the ending, I also can't imagine a better one. It's as if the ending is a natural conclusion to Nomi's journey, leaving just enough room for the reader to wonder and reflect.

I would really like to know how on earth this book managed to win a GG. What exactly is this book all about? It was extremely difficult to identify a plot within all those words that seemed to be about nothing.

Perhaps it is the writing style that I had an issue with. There was an excessive amount of free flow, lacking in a concentrated thought process. This made it hard for me to stay interested in the meager story that was there.

The lack of a clear and engaging plot, combined with the somewhat disjointed writing style, left me feeling rather disappointed. I expected more from a book that had won a GG.

Maybe I'm just not the right audience for this particular type of literature, but I couldn't help but wonder what others saw in it that I didn't.

I'm truly at a loss when it comes to understanding this book. The main character is completely different from any Mennonite I'm familiar with. Perhaps that's the very point. It was indeed entertaining, compelling me to keep reading, constantly wondering what would unfold next in this tiny community that lacks a train station or a liquor store, a place where seemingly nothing ever occurs.

When a train zooms by, Nomi, the 16 (or sometimes 13) year-old protagonist, heads to the tracks to watch the graffiti streak by at 100kph. It's the sole splash of color in the otherwise drab town.

Other aspects that really stood out include the fact that the first and biggest sin in town is making assumptions. The wealthier Mennonites, despite not being supposed to be wealthy in a technical sense, do their drinking in North Dakota or Hawaii. An awkward situation for wealthy Mennonites is running into other wealthy Mennonites at the swim-up bar of the Honolulu Holiday Inn.

One day, I lit up a cigarette and my bonnet caught fire. I struggled to untie it but couldn't. I screamed and ran around in circles until a quick-thinking American tourist grabbed me and dunked my head into a barrel of rainwater.

The windmill was struck by lightning, and one of the giant blades began to burn and then flew off into the night. The animals went wild. My dad witnessed it all and drove around town all night, watching things smash and burn. I mean, was that fun or what? I asked him. He looked at me as if he recognized me from somewhere, but I couldn't figure out where.

I truly believe that Nomi and I share a great deal in common. Our relationships with religion are both complex and multifaceted, filled with questions and uncertainties. Additionally, our undying obsession with Lou Reed binds us in a unique way. The book that I have been reading is a curious blend of sentimentality and absurdity. It manages to tug at the heartstrings while also making me laugh out loud at its unexpected twists and turns.

It's as if there is a constant downpour of questions surrounding us. One could easily feel overwhelmed and drown in the sea of inquiries. However, this very aspect of our shared experiences makes it all the more fascinating.

Overall, I would rate this book a solid 3.5 stars. It has entertained me, made me think, and connected me with Nomi on a deeper level. I look forward to seeing where our commonalities will lead us in the future.

One of the only books I've read recently that truly lived up to its "It'll make you laugh -- and cry!"-style reviews.

From the very beginning, the story had me completely engaged. The characters were so vividly portrayed that I felt as if I knew them personally.

As I delved deeper into the book, I found myself laughing out loud at the humorous situations and witty dialogue. However, as the plot progressed, things took a turn for the worse.

The events that unfolded were gut-wrenchingly, heart-stompingly sad. I could feel the pain and anguish of the characters as if it were my own.

Despite the sadness, the book also had moments of hope and redemption. It made me believe that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of light.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story that can make them feel a wide range of emotions. It is truly a masterpiece that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

This book is truly a remarkable piece of literature.

It is both hilariously funny and deeply sad, taking the reader on an intense emotional roller coaster ride. While reading it, I found myself laughing out loud one moment and then feeling a profound sense of tenderness and heartache the next.

I completed the book last night, and it left me completely shattered, yet I had an immediate urge to start it all over again.

Surprisingly, this book, which deals with rather quiet and ordinary subject matter, is also oddly suspenseful. Toews has a unique talent for writing about the smallest, most mundane daily things and still managing to maintain the reader's interest in the overall narrative thread.

I don't believe I've ever come across a narrator quite like Nomi. I simply adore her. She is as real to me as Scout Finch, and I have a deep affection for her.

Without a doubt, I will have to read this book again to fully appreciate all of its nuances and beauty.

This book was truly a downer and a great disappointment.

I almost gave up on it several times, but I decided to persevere because I really adored the main character, Nomi Nickel.

She is a sarcastic 16-year-old, and we get to hear her thoughts and comments about her Mennonite community.

In my opinion, they are sadists who use religion as a means of mind control.

However, a lot of sects do the same thing.

This is my first book by Toews, which I bought at a book sale a couple of years ago and just took off my shelf.

I've heard many good things about this author, so I'll try to put this one behind me and give her another chance at some point.

I've added a third star for Nomi's voice, but the book itself really only deserves a 2.

If there were a way to save this girl, I would.

I don't say this about many books, but I truly wish I hadn't read this one.

I’ve let a few days pass since I finished this book, but I have to admit I’m still not sure what to make of it.

It was highly recommended to me and proved to be a very interesting read. However, I feel like I missed out on much of its meaning.

Written in the voice of Nomi, it follows her trains of thought from one idea to the next, from past to present, from misery to humour, from memory to hope.

I found the resulting account difficult to follow and get caught in. But at the same time, it brings us straight to Nomi’s internal conflicts and most guarded thoughts.

It shows us probably better than any other type of account how she is struggling to understand and deal with the world around her, and find herself in the midst of it. In fact, the book is as confused as she is herself.

The ‘world’ I just mentioned is pretty much limited to the Mennonite community and town she grew up in. Confined geographically and, more importantly, religiously, culturally and socially, Nomi knows very little of the world outside.

Partly fascinated by the nearby city and disgusted by the ‘American tourists’ who come by for a view of a ‘traditional’, ’simple’, ‘rustic’ lifestyle, she has been brought up to believe she is in the only place which will ensure her salvation.

But as she grows up and everything around her crumbles, she has to find her own path.

This is a journey through self-identity, growing up, fundamentalism, community vs. individual culture and the nature of kindness. It is probably better enjoyed on a second reading.

Reading this book has had a profound impact on me. It has made me feel more like myself in a way that I never thought possible. As I delved into the pages, I discovered aspects of my own personality and beliefs that I had previously overlooked or suppressed. The characters and their stories resonated with me on a deep level, allowing me to see my own life from a different perspective.

Each chapter seemed to unlock a new part of my being, and I found myself becoming more confident and comfortable in my own skin. I no longer felt the need to conform to the expectations of others or try to be someone I wasn't. Instead, I was able to embrace my true self and all of its quirks and imperfections.

This book has truly been a transformative experience for me, and I will be forever grateful for the lessons it has taught me. It has shown me that it is okay to be who I am and that there is beauty and strength in authenticity. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to discover more about themselves and find their true voice.