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zeegy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
So many things ended up happening. But the way the pieces all fell together in this slow way, the dread of knowing what'll happen. A good if albeit stressful read
nikhita_m1908's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
maggie_gentner's review
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
After the first few chapters I was so hopeful that this book was going to scratch the Secret History itch. After about halfway through I felt the tension fizzling out.....I wanted this to be moody and gripping and mysterious, but for me it fell flat, especially after the halfway point.
richdaric's review
dark
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.5
valleyofthedulls's review
2.0
i picked up this novel because i’m forever chasing the high of the secret history, but when i was about 100 pages away from finishing this book, i realized that what i was after was a reread of the secret history.
i did end up finishing this book (after reading the secret history again) and this is my takeaway: cardboard characters, totally forced and unbelievable dialogue (really, it seemed as if every character spoke in the same fashion), and writing that tries to be very serious and clever but comes across as contrived and superficial.
the characters were so undeveloped that by the time the climax of the novel came and went and the ripples smoothed themselves out, i was bored and ready for my next read.
i’m rating two stars because despite my review, the read was somewhat engaging and the premise was interesting.
i did end up finishing this book (after reading the secret history again) and this is my takeaway: cardboard characters, totally forced and unbelievable dialogue (really, it seemed as if every character spoke in the same fashion), and writing that tries to be very serious and clever but comes across as contrived and superficial.
the characters were so undeveloped that by the time the climax of the novel came and went and the ripples smoothed themselves out, i was bored and ready for my next read.
i’m rating two stars because despite my review, the read was somewhat engaging and the premise was interesting.
caitie95's review against another edition
5.0
This is a very good book that I found hard to put down.
The story follows Oscar, and his relationship with Iris, her brother Eden, and their friends. Eden is arrogant, and has some very strange ideas which worry Iris, who begs Oscar for help proving this.
The novel shows a contrast between the working class background of Oscar, and the privately educated, Oxbridge of the other main characters.
There's plenty of mystery and intrigue, with some of the stories never fully explained.
The plot flows very well as it asks just what is madness.
The story follows Oscar, and his relationship with Iris, her brother Eden, and their friends. Eden is arrogant, and has some very strange ideas which worry Iris, who begs Oscar for help proving this.
The novel shows a contrast between the working class background of Oscar, and the privately educated, Oxbridge of the other main characters.
There's plenty of mystery and intrigue, with some of the stories never fully explained.
The plot flows very well as it asks just what is madness.
andrew61's review against another edition
4.0
A readable story of a Care assistant Oscar who works in a Cambridge retirement home. He is drawn one evening to a church service by the organ playing and soon is involved in THe Bellwether family, romantically with Iris the medical student an Eden the Organ playing music student with the power to heal. You know from chapter one that something terrible happens at the end but not the details so there is an element of impending doom. Reviews compare it to Secret History but its so long ago that I read that that I can't offer a view but I enjoyed it even though some of the characters are a bit annoying at times and it is very rareified student atmosphere. Overall more 3.5 than 4 stars but worth a read.
smokedsignals's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0