Review by Lady-of-Literature -- Seven at Two Past Five

[Lady-of-Literature]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Seven at Two Past Five" by Tara Basi.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Seven at Two Past Five by Tara Basi is a short story whose genre is labeled as, "other," and that is appropriate. Abi, our leading lady is old in age, but the exact number escapes her and she lives for button making. Her journey is simple and yet anything but. For in her world, which may be an abstract reflection of ours, exists these enigmas called Terrors. They plague minds in the night and possibly more, especially to Abi, but remain cloaked in mystery. When she is suddenly and unexplainedly allowed a peaceful slumber without their torment she awakes to find herself unjustly judged for a crime she can't explain. From here Adi embarks on her very surreal journey to get an appeal from mad people who know more than she and speak often in nonsense riddles.

I read the first page before I decided that I was going to like this tale. First and foremost is the style of writing which are rhythmic streams of descriptions and dialogs resembling something akin to poetry. Musically even, for the phrasing of simple things are given a romantic twist. The reason why the romanticism of beds and corridors works so well is that the story is told through First POV. Adi, also known as Seven at Two Past Five, is a refreshing change from the normalized young hero in the prime of their life looking for meaning. Adi is just a sweet button maker, she knows little of the world beyond that and has no desire to learn or take part in it. Sweet Adi loves her rules, her small bunk bed, and her routine. In her eyes, this life is fulfilling and so when the reader sees Adi's life through her eyes there's a deep appreciation and love for things others might not see the value in. In addition, this also allows Adi to act in place as the reader throughout her quest. Her world is unexplored by both her and us and we share in that confusion and discovery together. In the books original summary and added commentary, it was mentioned that the story's madness is on par with Alice in Wonderland. An agreeable notion seeing as both leads are women trying to get back to return to their definition of normality from an upside-down world populated with equally upside down people. Few are helpful individuals like Zero, while most, by contrast, might know too much and torment her like The Marys. These characters and their intricate set of rules are both a joy and a frustrating hassle. Like a labyrinth of riddles, it is easy to get lost in the words and lose your head, but much like Adi, only by continuing forward can we reach a hopeful end.

As for the negative qualities, they are hard to decipher. Grammarly speaking the writing is professionally done with no error that I noticed. I did notice a difference of spelling in dialog, but I believe that to be intentional for two reasons. One, there is the use of British slang consistently throughout the book and being American myself I am well aware of our difference in spelling, they are not wrong just different. Two, most if not all differently spelled words were usually profanity. I believe this to be an attempt to portray accents and pronunciations. Supposedly, another negative is the endgame couple. I didn't enjoy seeing two particular characters get together because there was no real build up or chemistry shown between them, it just sort of happened like the other mad things that take place. Perhaps it signifies something more? Other than that the writing is engaging and the character's relationships, strange as they are, are followable.

Personally, I overall enjoyed the book, however, I also believe this book to be an acquired taste. It is easy to be discouraged from continuing further, even I felt like putting it down at least twice, but for some reason, I was drawn to finish. It's like an abstract painting of heavy colors with a deafening atmosphere, some will find meaning in its absurdity while others see a big blob. I found the confusing world fascinating and its characters disgustingly real, but future readers should be warned of several qualities that might come off as shocking. There were more sexual innuendos than I anticipated, and I anticipated none. Vulgar passes and extremely perverted fantasies are shared around the middle half of the story and further on. Blood and gore also make an appearance in smaller doses, yet nothing overly sadistic except in the sexual sense. And as stated earlier, it is difficult to clearly categorize the story's genre, even speaking on it too much might give away the unraveling plot and ending. Perhaps it can best be described as a twisted spiritual novel told from a fictional standpoint that could somewhat convey its meaning. All I can say is that this is a book of discussion and recommended for open-minded adults. Positive, negative, or purely inquisitive feedback will only add on to its many layers.

In conclusion, I'd rate the book 4 out 4 stars. Its leading lady is refreshing and its supportive characters speak for themselves. There are obvious and not so obvious parallels that could lead to open discussions on religion and justice. It would be only a matter of time before the reader finds themselves dedicated to its ending as I was. Its an enjoyable trip done a very, very deep rabbit hole.

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Seven at Two Past Five
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[kdstrack]

I had my doubts about this book, but your descriptions have truly intrigued me. Since it is difficult to determine its proper genre, I would be curious to read it based on your insightful comments. Thanks for the recommendation.