I absolutely loved this book-and so heartbreaking to think this was her last novel before he passed away. Post-apocalypse mixed with dream-like state-disturbing and distorted, bleak and beautiful all at the same time.

I have since bought a copy of this novel for my own personal collection at home.

I would like to thank Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin, and Penguin Classics for the opportunity to read and review this copy.

Absolutely amazing, a fairy tale for the ages.

Would recommend anyone to read and enjoy.

Beautiful cover as well.

There are a few books that I have read that I just don’t understand. The first book I tried to read that left me completely bewildered was Ulysses by James Joyce. Parts of his book made sense and then all of a sudden, I had no clue what was going on. Ice was similar to my experience reading James Joyce. The writing itself was beautiful and painted vivid pictures.

The narrator is a man who is in love or infatuated with a young woman with silver hair. The story takes place in a dark, apocalyptic setting with lots of war and military control. In the book the man encounters this woman in various scenarios. It is almost like he jumps between alternate worlds, but there is no way for the reader to tell that he is doing so, except by what is happening in the text … and the text doesn’t always make sense. He sees this woman in a number of different situations. In some, he is pursuing her. In some, she is dead or he witnesses her death. In all of the scenarios, she is a victim. She is abused, raped, chased, an object locked away in a room.

Because I didn’t understand this book, I went on-line to look up the author and the book. The book is considered an important literary work by most people who are much more important than me. Anna Kavan had a sad life that ended when she overdosed. Honestly, this explained a lot to me. One review I read said that the book was an allegory for her own addiction. I didn’t get this from the book, but the disjointedness in the story could certainly be explained by her doing drugs.

If you like “trippy” books that don’t have to have a meaning, this might be the book for you.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary e-book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A fantastic translation of a classic finally come to the US.