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beegereads's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bekahbea86's review against another edition
4.0
If your in the mood for a really good ghost stroy read this one!
sarahcoller's review against another edition
5.0
There are so many beautiful facets to this fascinating story. I loved the prose, the atmosphere, the very complicated but gripping story. About half way through, I wanted to message the author and tell her how absolutely touching this story is. Very thoughtful, very philosophical.
This author reminds me of Kate Morton---but better. A fourth Bronte sister, maybe. The only not-so-great reaction I had to the book was that the dialogue was a little hokey and melodramatic, at times, and I'm still not so sure how I feel about the ending. Though I had the "main thing" figured out by page 78, and reaffirmed my suspicions by page 101, I still very much enjoyed reading how everything played out and will admit there were one or two things that surprised me later---but still before they were actually revealed.
I loved how the author used imagery and dichotomies in so many ways. Maisie's story is a definite "coming of age", though the aforementioned hokey dialogue proves things are happening way too fast for her to process.
The younger Nell expressed many of my thoughts and desires as a writer. There is so much I want to express with my writing...so much of it is inexpressible until I see it there on the page before me.
Grange House is definitely one of my new all-time favorite novels. I want to go back and reread it all now!
This author reminds me of Kate Morton---but better. A fourth Bronte sister, maybe. The only not-so-great reaction I had to the book was that the dialogue was a little hokey and melodramatic, at times, and I'm still not so sure how I feel about the ending. Though I had the "main thing" figured out by page 78, and reaffirmed my suspicions by page 101, I still very much enjoyed reading how everything played out and will admit there were one or two things that surprised me later---but still before they were actually revealed.
I loved how the author used imagery and dichotomies in so many ways. Maisie's story is a definite "coming of age", though the aforementioned hokey dialogue proves things are happening way too fast for her to process.
The younger Nell expressed many of my thoughts and desires as a writer. There is so much I want to express with my writing...so much of it is inexpressible until I see it there on the page before me.
Grange House is definitely one of my new all-time favorite novels. I want to go back and reread it all now!
lianamathias's review against another edition
2.0
Yikes. All the elements are there for a great story, but the main character is basically a Victorian whiny teen and the writing is superfluous. I skimmed most of it and almost gave up. Really disappointing.
caroline_the_reader's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
1.25
Very dull.
mheitz's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
3.0
Kind of made me sad, but it kept me guessing the whole way through.
margaret_j_c's review against another edition
5.0
Haunting. Intrinsic. Original. Everything I wanted in a novel.
mammakate's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to enjoy this book so trudged through. I felt as though every chapter dragged on and on.
mamasquirrel's review
3.0
This was a two-day page turner for me...but I have lots of patience for Victorian (or faux Victorian) literature. However, when all was said and done, there were some definite holes that bothered me. For instance:
1)As another reviewer commented, the body count of the plot was a bit extreme. Maisie is going to be one life-long-scarred individual having dealt with so much death.
2) Libby's "birth" story seemed quite far fetched. Perhaps women really did have "hysterical" pregnancies in the Victorian era, but if they did, Blake should have given us a little more story there to make it more believable.
There is more, but other reviewers have covered things very well.
The setting was wonderfully described...wonderfully gothic. I've taken Gothic literature classes in the past, and this book would be a perfect study, it has all the archetypes, but not in such a way that they feel forced.
1)As another reviewer commented, the body count of the plot was a bit extreme. Maisie is going to be one life-long-scarred individual having dealt with so much death.
2) Libby's "birth" story seemed quite far fetched. Perhaps women really did have "hysterical" pregnancies in the Victorian era, but if they did, Blake should have given us a little more story there to make it more believable.
There is more, but other reviewers have covered things very well.
The setting was wonderfully described...wonderfully gothic. I've taken Gothic literature classes in the past, and this book would be a perfect study, it has all the archetypes, but not in such a way that they feel forced.
terese_utan_h's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0