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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
Set in Victorian England, this modern novel tells the tale of Cora Seaborne (a young widow who leaves society London for the coast of rural Essex) and includes all expected from a Victorian novel: love, monsters, a call for social reform, and insights into the workings of the human heat.
The best historical fiction shows people behaving in ways that are appropriate to the time setting... Tuberculosis, fossil-hunting, autism, and straight-laced gender roles all play into this story about love, attraction, and hysteria set so firmly in its time (1893) so as to seem like a fever-dream.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Quality an 8 - personal enjoyment closer to a 4 … this is a fascinating piece of literature and written with a very particular and engrossing style. That being said I struggled with the characters, with their personal/emotional side plots told in the removed fashion of the narrative that made it very difficult for me to empathize with most of the main characters who came across as quite cruel. There’s a lot to be said here about love and relationships and how much one might have to give, and what to do when your love is unrequited, or when you are the recipient of unrequited love, or when you find yourself against your will in love with someone new. Something written in a - eugh dare I use the words - more “chick lit” style would have helped me personally slither through all that plot arc, but for sure the novel would then not be what it is. So I guess this gets around a 7 - recommend with reservations.
A little bit of Thornbirds came to life
A little bit of Brideshead on the side
A huger bit of sex is all it needs
A huge amount of prude is what I see
A little bit of Serpent in the sun
A little bit of Martha all night long
A little bit of Suffragette, here I am
A little bit of this gives me a yawn.
(Recently finished the bestseller The Essex Serpent in Swedish and I still don't get the hype.)
A little bit of Brideshead on the side
A huger bit of sex is all it needs
A huge amount of prude is what I see
A little bit of Serpent in the sun
A little bit of Martha all night long
A little bit of Suffragette, here I am
A little bit of this gives me a yawn.
(Recently finished the bestseller The Essex Serpent in Swedish and I still don't get the hype.)
Took up this book after watching the TV adaptation which I did not like at all, hoping that the source material would be worthy of the acclaim and attention. In vain, though!
GREAT novel -- effective descriptions, very good character development.
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved descriptive passages of place but the characters felt poorly formed.
good character development, but while it is written well, it is way too long. the action comes mostly near the end of the book