Reviews

Gli aghi d'oro by Michael McDowell

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annaacenc's review against another edition

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adventurous funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No

4.5

francichessa's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced

3.0

melloooowww's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

It was LONG, very long, far too long for very little in the end. The plot is interesting, the characters are interesting, but the descriptions are so long that you never really get into the story. You get the impression that you're a spectator but too much so, the third person narrative prevents the characters from developing and you end up reading a big description of actions that sounds more like a stage script than a real story.

The fact that everyone dies in the last 20 pages is frustrating, you don't expect it and the way they die, the so expected revenge, isn't even as impressive as expected.

It's a book with some very good ideas and a very masterful context, but it leaves you wanting more.

_onebookatatime's review

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

emmadnl's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

vivianafascia's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

fra_ci90's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

McDowell writing is smooth and he is good at setting an immersive atmosphere. The plot is quite intriguing until halfway through the book, afterwards it becomes a bit dull.

it’s a bit disappointing that the ending is what it is, I think a twist/something unexpected would have been beneficial to the book or even just a more nuanced “victory “ of the Shanks. Also poor Ellen, that felt unnecessary.

All in all an entertaining book, where the historical background and the setting is more interesting than the plot itself.