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eurydycja's review against another edition
3.0
Wspaniały pomysł, ale średnie wykonanie. Gdyby napięcie było tu inaczej poprowadzone, gdyby dać o połowę mniej żmudnych opisów, to byłaby to naprawdę wciągająca powieść. Zamiast tego, odczuwałam znużenie (a słaba lektorka potęgowała irytację).
juniper_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thebookdaisy's review against another edition
Thoughts on Mrs England by Stacey Halls
I listened to the audiobook of this and absolutely adored the narration; It wasn’t overly animated or dull, and I felt it fit the story and atmosphere perfectly. Overall, it enhanced my experience of listening to Mrs England.
When I first started listening to the book, I unintentionally compared the atmosphere and part of the premise of the story to Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca (one of my favourite novels) along with The Haunting of Bly Manor (a favourite show adaptation of mine), this is primarily the reason I was eager to keep on listening to the story. But as it progressed, it began to feel vastly different to both of these stories and now that I’ve finished the book, I wouldn’t compare these when recommending this book to a friend. Yes, there are similarities, but there just aren’t enough for it to be relevant.
I didn’t gell with the pacing of the story particularly well; I felt it was a bit slow at times and then suddenly became a lot faster, revealing things quickly, which led to me feeling a bit disconnected and confused at times. Sometimes, this added to the story, but other times, it felt out of place, and I would have preferred it if the pacing had stayed at a more consistent rate.
Aside from the pacing and the occasional loss of interest (especially in the middle of the story), I did really enjoy this book. Ruby May’s character felt incredibly real and complex; I love how Halls depicted her inner and outer emotions—you really felt as if you were there with the character. The use of first-person writing was done very well, and I love the voice and characterisation of Ruby May. The elusiveness of Mrs England kept me intrguied as to keep listening to find out more about her character; I liked how her character was slowly revealed throughout the novel. My thoughts and assumptions about her were constantly changing - this made for a very engaging reading experience. I feel that this book would be a good re-read, as you would be able to notice the little signs and things with context. Looking back at the story, I can appreciate how well Halls structured everything.
There were times when I almost cried, especially near the end when Ruby's backstory was revealed. I felt quite connected to the character, so learning about her past brought me a myriad of emotions.
The writing of this book is not overall flowery but also isn’t dry, and there is some beautiful prose in this novel. Halls describes things in a way that feels just the right amount of detail and metaphor.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Mrs England. The story, atmosphere, writing and characters were all masterfully crafted. It is the perfect book to read/listen to on a rainy day in early spring or, preferably, in late autumn due to the cold West Yorkshire setting.
melissa90's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
otis_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jojo99's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
escsmith's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I didn't expect this story when I picked it up, but it really captured my attention and I was eager to keep listening.
I enjoyed the setting and the characters, I think the elements of mystery brought this story to life as otherwise it could have been a little slow.
A good read and a nice change from other historical stories.
I enjoyed the setting and the characters, I think the elements of mystery brought this story to life as otherwise it could have been a little slow.
A good read and a nice change from other historical stories.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Mental illness