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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
This was so beautifully written and Cora makes a compelling protagonist and a lovely, haunting atmosphere. I did make my way here after starting the TV show and feeling like I must read the book first - and I'm glad I did!
A lot less serpent-y than I expected, but I actually loved this a surprising amount.
Beautifully written. Seemingly simple characters who in fact are quite complicated. The main character Cora is free from an abusive husband when he dies and she chooses to live as she has always wanted to; her son who lives in his own world eventually reaches out to her; the reverend who adores his wife Stella but still falls in love with Cora; Martha, Cora’s companion has a mind of her own and so on
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What an IRRITATING novel. I feel rather cheated, having been led astray by promises of cryptids.
The writing is full of wit and insight. It reminds me very much of Middlemarch, probably because of Cora’s unmourned husband. The Victorian setting works perfectly as the backdrop for a story about the conflict between society’s expectations and human nature.
But the book limped to a halt, rather than an end, with little resolved, and with a very very local and limited salvation at the hands of one rich benefactor, while the rest of creation is still ground under the oppressor’s heel (quite a Dickensian ending, actually.) The reader is left to guess how various plots conclude; the author even ends with a chapter in the present tense, as if to show the story has yet to play out.
The character with autism had moments of connection with his family and friends, but only at times convenient for the advancement of the plot.Francis agrees to help Stella stage her departure, which he does, but he immediately regrets it, and conveniently has the drawing of her scheme, so no time is wasted on difficult conversations as Cora sets out to the rescue.
The writing is full of wit and insight. It reminds me very much of Middlemarch, probably because of Cora’s unmourned husband. The Victorian setting works perfectly as the backdrop for a story about the conflict between society’s expectations and human nature.
But the book limped to a halt, rather than an end, with little resolved, and with a very very local and limited salvation at the hands of one rich benefactor, while the rest of creation is still ground under the oppressor’s heel (quite a Dickensian ending, actually.) The reader is left to guess how various plots conclude; the author even ends with a chapter in the present tense, as if to show the story has yet to play out.
The character with autism had moments of connection with his family and friends, but only at times convenient for the advancement of the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail
Meh. Not what I was expecting and not pleasantly unexpected.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The back cover summary grossly oversimplifies the story and the depth of the wide cast of characters within.
The language is so dense that it was hard for me to get through the first 25-30%. If you can get far enough to take up interest in what’s going on (or what will happen), the effort is worth it. The vocabulary and diction are beautiful. The story is endearing and mysterious.
The language is so dense that it was hard for me to get through the first 25-30%. If you can get far enough to take up interest in what’s going on (or what will happen), the effort is worth it. The vocabulary and diction are beautiful. The story is endearing and mysterious.
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated