I didn't hate the book but I didn't love it either, though I wanted to. The blurb referenced Dylan Thomas and Angela Carter but Winman isn't in their league, and I think that the constant effort to be "poetic" is the book's biggest weakness. Combine that with magical realism and there were a few moments when the prose made me grind my teeth.
On the other hand, if you just follow the characters and let the writing wash over you, it is mostly a quite soothing read. Comforting, almost, as even the more dramatic moments are rarely shocking. I wasn't very taken with Marvellous herself but I found Drake, the traumatised ex-soldier, quite interesting and I cared about him whereas Marvellous never seemed like a real person.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read but not one I felt passionate about. I would read more of Winman's work if I encountered it but I wouldn't go out of my way to seek it out.
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