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fern17's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
abookishtype's review against another edition
3.0
Normally, I ignore forewords, introductions, prefaces, and afterwords, but I’m glad that I read Rose Tremain’s notes about the writing of Restoration when I finished the book. I’m not used to an author explicitly telling me what they were thinking...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
coronaurora's review against another edition
4.0
With Restoration, Tremain has unlocked the secrets to write enduring historical fiction. All the deadweight of imbibing fictional characters movements and language with the period's nuances besides convincingly making them engage with landscapes and humanity three centuries old is accomplished masterfully by duplicating the written cadences and vocabulary of the famous diarists and commentators of the era. If there was an anachronism, it completely passed me as I galloped through this addictive and funny adventure which for the most part was like trying plate after plate of amuse bouches.
She smartly enrols her fictional character, Merivel, on a professional path of a physician, that inevitably brings him close to the humanity around him, and then an extra fold is added to his personality: he is a Reluctant physician, who serendipitously finds himself in the King's court and quickly succumbs to the decadence and debauchery that comes from the monarch's benefaction. The persisting wrinkle of his reluctance to "his calling" takes him on a journey of self-realisation with the kaleidoscope of the late 17th century Britain as an enchanting backdrop. With the farting and bodice-ripping Merivel in tow, you get to live and breathe through most of the century's social mores first hand: from the incredulous particulars of a monarch's "sponsorships" to the casual licentiousness at the parties of the "gentry" to the speech of the bargemen on the Thames and the lives of washerwomen inn-owners and finally to the soul-crushing hubbub of the teeming poor and mad in the bedlams and workhouses.
A growing-up yarn is the last thing I expected from a period piece, and yet here it is in all its glory, fall and rise from the ashes. Tremain's masterstroke is writing this in first person as Merivel and imbibing him with all the contradictions and fallibilities of a living, breathing person. Outwardly crude, mediocre, and a slave of his appetites; inwardly self-aware, self-mocking, witty, modest, curious and generous all at once, Merivel makes for an exquisite pair of eyes to observe the world around him. When you finally find him reaching that summit of self-realisation, piece by piece channelling the humane, courageous side of his personality, Tremain is busy choreographing this precise moment with his benefactor's restoration of the belief in him; a benefactor who he held in singular, earnest high esteem despite all the world's misgivings and the said benefactor's dubious treatment of Merivel, and it made for a well-earned, cockle-warming feel good climax.
Part of the book's triumph is that Tremain draws all the characters around Merivel with as much colour and individual spectacle as each of Merivel's impulses. The enigmatic, recently restored King who is revealled to be a discerning patron stands out as much as the Quaker best friend who doubles up as a searing critic to Merivel's follies to the wife-figure he aches to possess but cannot. I'll remember them all, and will be re-reading Restoration for the sheer humour with which Merivel receives all the insults and how very little comes in the way of him telling us his "response" to the world and people around him. That is after I have dipped some more into his antics in Tremain's sequel. She has created a bit of a small literary legend with Merivel.
She smartly enrols her fictional character, Merivel, on a professional path of a physician, that inevitably brings him close to the humanity around him, and then an extra fold is added to his personality: he is a Reluctant physician, who serendipitously finds himself in the King's court and quickly succumbs to the decadence and debauchery that comes from the monarch's benefaction. The persisting wrinkle of his reluctance to "his calling" takes him on a journey of self-realisation with the kaleidoscope of the late 17th century Britain as an enchanting backdrop. With the farting and bodice-ripping Merivel in tow, you get to live and breathe through most of the century's social mores first hand: from the incredulous particulars of a monarch's "sponsorships" to the casual licentiousness at the parties of the "gentry" to the speech of the bargemen on the Thames and the lives of washerwomen inn-owners and finally to the soul-crushing hubbub of the teeming poor and mad in the bedlams and workhouses.
A growing-up yarn is the last thing I expected from a period piece, and yet here it is in all its glory, fall and rise from the ashes. Tremain's masterstroke is writing this in first person as Merivel and imbibing him with all the contradictions and fallibilities of a living, breathing person. Outwardly crude, mediocre, and a slave of his appetites; inwardly self-aware, self-mocking, witty, modest, curious and generous all at once, Merivel makes for an exquisite pair of eyes to observe the world around him. When you finally find him reaching that summit of self-realisation, piece by piece channelling the humane, courageous side of his personality, Tremain is busy choreographing this precise moment with his benefactor's restoration of the belief in him; a benefactor who he held in singular, earnest high esteem despite all the world's misgivings and the said benefactor's dubious treatment of Merivel, and it made for a well-earned, cockle-warming feel good climax.
Part of the book's triumph is that Tremain draws all the characters around Merivel with as much colour and individual spectacle as each of Merivel's impulses. The enigmatic, recently restored King who is revealled to be a discerning patron stands out as much as the Quaker best friend who doubles up as a searing critic to Merivel's follies to the wife-figure he aches to possess but cannot. I'll remember them all, and will be re-reading Restoration for the sheer humour with which Merivel receives all the insults and how very little comes in the way of him telling us his "response" to the world and people around him. That is after I have dipped some more into his antics in Tremain's sequel. She has created a bit of a small literary legend with Merivel.
kbaxter21's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.25
jamnesreen's review against another edition
2.0
Review originally posted at Heartscent Reads
I will just keep my review short because I really am disappointed with this one. After reading the first book, I thought, “Yeah, this book is promising. I might give book 2 a chance.” I was sad with how it turned out.
There were a lot of love scenes in there that makes me cringe and I don’t exactly get the point of Aimee forgiving Keegan that fast. I mean, she got mad, Keegan went to her, explained and then she forgives. That easy???? They were adults but doesn’t act like it, in my honest opinion. Also, I have read a bunch of grammatical and typo errors, still. Which are also evident on the first book. That’s an eye sore, seriously.
On the good note, the story was cute. I would love to have a castle built for me too. The idea of “stars” was lovely. I swoon for a while along the middle part of the story which made me continue reading until the end expecting something good will happen but to no luck.
The story lacks, “wow factor”. I can’t even remember most of what I read from this one. It just didn’t stick. It just wasn’t for me.
I will just keep my review short because I really am disappointed with this one. After reading the first book, I thought, “Yeah, this book is promising. I might give book 2 a chance.” I was sad with how it turned out.
There were a lot of love scenes in there that makes me cringe and I don’t exactly get the point of Aimee forgiving Keegan that fast. I mean, she got mad, Keegan went to her, explained and then she forgives. That easy???? They were adults but doesn’t act like it, in my honest opinion. Also, I have read a bunch of grammatical and typo errors, still. Which are also evident on the first book. That’s an eye sore, seriously.
On the good note, the story was cute. I would love to have a castle built for me too. The idea of “stars” was lovely. I swoon for a while along the middle part of the story which made me continue reading until the end expecting something good will happen but to no luck.
The story lacks, “wow factor”. I can’t even remember most of what I read from this one. It just didn’t stick. It just wasn’t for me.
topazriver's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
sophronisba's review against another edition
5.0
I've read a couple of other novels by Rose Tremain, and I've always liked her work, but this was the first of her books to really wow me. I thought this book was amazing. It's told from the point of view of a foolish sycophant at the court of Charles II. But Robert Merivel transforms over the course of the book, and the transformation is thoroughly believable.
The writing in Restoration is quite different than Tremain's usual style; it's told in the first-person and the voice reminded me a bit of Sarah Waters's work (although the plot itself is nothing like anything Waters might write). The voice and period details felt very authentic to me. Most importantly, Merivel feels like a real person, and I never felt that Tremain was sneering at him. He does foolish things, but Tremain never loses sight of the human underneath, and that focus is what makes this book really work.
Tremain intended this book as a commentary on the excesses of the Eighties, and I think the parallels to consumer culture still work. But even if you ignore the commentary, Restoration works as a marvelous character study of a flawed, vapid, but ultimately redeemable man.
The writing in Restoration is quite different than Tremain's usual style; it's told in the first-person and the voice reminded me a bit of Sarah Waters's work (although the plot itself is nothing like anything Waters might write). The voice and period details felt very authentic to me. Most importantly, Merivel feels like a real person, and I never felt that Tremain was sneering at him. He does foolish things, but Tremain never loses sight of the human underneath, and that focus is what makes this book really work.
Tremain intended this book as a commentary on the excesses of the Eighties, and I think the parallels to consumer culture still work. But even if you ignore the commentary, Restoration works as a marvelous character study of a flawed, vapid, but ultimately redeemable man.
jorvikreads's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
natashacbn's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sallyturbitt's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of Rose Tremain's best novels, her ability to create colour, scenery and emotion is brilliant. The film of this is also good, and it was quite pleasant to imagine Robert Downey Jr as I was reading!