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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
The writing in this book is beautiful and amazing, but this book was so dark and intense I could only take it on small doses. It's haunting and makes you look at things in a new light and I don't even know how to feel
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
The only reason this book got three stars is because the writing was so poetic.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
The Enchanted is a book that clearly has deep layers and intense themes. You can tell it’s a special piece of work, but honestly, it didn’t grip me the way I expected. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood for this kind of read.
The character of “the lady” was the one that truly captivated me and kept me engaged with the story. As for the narrator, while intriguing, I didn’t feel very connected to him until the end, which, by the way, was quite emotional.
One aspect I found interesting is how the author chooses not to reveal the narrator’s crime. It creates an unexpected sense of empathy for someone who might not deserve it, which makes everything even more ambiguous and human.
I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy introspective and poetic stories, with a focus on broken characters and the invisible side of the prison system.
I received this free through goodreads and these are my thoughts. I was so intrigued with this book, that my husband left with my daughter, got dinner, and I didn't know he left until I smelled KFC. It draws you in with mystical, mysterious characters and locks you attention using vivid imagery and varying sentences. I loved the main quote and the whole meaning behind it! The reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 was I felt that it was too short and rushed. I however would read any other books that follow one this good. It was a great plot going too fast to the finish. I read this book in 3 days, while still taking care of my "household" needs. It passed time very quickly and I would recommend this book for fantasy lovers alike!
This is probably on me, but I don't GET this book.
There are sooo many individual scenes that I could write entire ESSAYS about, easily. Symbolism and beautiful writing style and SUCH rawness. Ugh, they're amazing. But as a whole... what's the cohesive idea? What connects everything together? What am I supposed to take away from this when you put all the individual pieces together? I don't have a clue.
Absolutely will reread parts and I suspect they'll hit me as hard as they did the first time round. Not sure if rereading the entire book is a possibility.
There are sooo many individual scenes that I could write entire ESSAYS about, easily. Symbolism and beautiful writing style and SUCH rawness. Ugh, they're amazing. But as a whole... what's the cohesive idea? What connects everything together? What am I supposed to take away from this when you put all the individual pieces together? I don't have a clue.
Absolutely will reread parts and I suspect they'll hit me as hard as they did the first time round. Not sure if rereading the entire book is a possibility.
I take issue with calling this magical realism. The narrator is delusional and that's not magic... That's just mental illness. Maybe I don't have a clear understanding of my favorite genre. Beside the point. I'm going to stand my ground on this one. That issue aside, it's a great, horrifying and sad story. The writing is wonderfully detached which I thought was perfect for the topics covered and the entire subject of prison life. The characters, minor and major, feel authentic.
The story focuses on the lives of a few characters. Mainly, York, a prisoner, and the investigator who we only know as the Lady. We get a bit of information on the Warden and a heartbreaking story on the Priest. Overall, I think it was a fantastic read. Some reviews felt like
As far as the magical realism goes, the horses are earthquakes, the hammerers and the little things that suck the warmth from the dead are all a part of his imagination. Yes, I understand that in some cases that is how fantasy works but magical realism needs to be integrated into the real world. It needs to be something that knocks the Earth just slightly off it's axis, barely noticeable, absolutely changing to the environment EVEN if it's only the narrators environment. This book was not that.
I did really enjoy learning that the Arden was the narrator. It seemed to prove the resounding idea in the book that the worst of the criminals were the most damaged. Early on, we're told that Arden did unspeakable things to end up there in the beginning. We know that he's on death row for smashing another inmates head in but still the warden has a soft spot for him. That's because he's so mentally damaged - or at least that was my take on it.
4/5 stars. Great read. I would absolutely recommend it.
The story focuses on the lives of a few characters. Mainly, York, a prisoner, and the investigator who we only know as the Lady. We get a bit of information on the Warden and a heartbreaking story on the Priest. Overall, I think it was a fantastic read. Some reviews felt like
Spoiler
never finding out the crimes was an issue. I see that more as a technique that allows the reader to generate our own absolute worst crime once we know a few minor facts - there was a wife, there was a child, there were little girls. It's just enough to allow us to create our own story about what might have happened. Learning that one of the inmates killed his own son also sets the bar extremely high.As far as the magical realism goes, the horses are earthquakes, the hammerers and the little things that suck the warmth from the dead are all a part of his imagination. Yes, I understand that in some cases that is how fantasy works but magical realism needs to be integrated into the real world. It needs to be something that knocks the Earth just slightly off it's axis, barely noticeable, absolutely changing to the environment EVEN if it's only the narrators environment. This book was not that.
I did really enjoy learning that the Arden was the narrator. It seemed to prove the resounding idea in the book that the worst of the criminals were the most damaged. Early on, we're told that Arden did unspeakable things to end up there in the beginning. We know that he's on death row for smashing another inmates head in but still the warden has a soft spot for him. That's because he's so mentally damaged - or at least that was my take on it.
4/5 stars. Great read. I would absolutely recommend it.