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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
mysterious
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
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault
Minor: Gore, Racism
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a weird one.
I was engaged enough throughout to finish it, but I think it was a little slow, in general. It always felt like it was picking up momentum but never fully reaching anything concrete. I liked Miss Byrd as a character enough, liked her interactions with the children and Agatha the most, but it felt like suddenly that was all thrown to the side to pursue the more supernatural aspect of the book.
And while I am as much of a fan as the next person of stories about women losing their minds and refusing to submit to gender stereotypes and expectations, in this particular novel it felt just a little off. When things began to go wrong for her, when the town turned on her, was because she was literally not showering and being a bad teacher so I had a hard time empathizing I guess.
There were so many elements here that I found so interesting, like the dynamics and conservatism of little rural towns, being queer in the early 20th century, the perception of the "mad woman". But for some reason most of it felt a little undercooked to me, to feel a full impact.
I still really enjoyed it. The writing is beautiful and haunting and attests to the fact that while I felt like there wasn't a big enough climax for all the build up the book had, I still felt compelled enough to keep reading.
I was engaged enough throughout to finish it, but I think it was a little slow, in general. It always felt like it was picking up momentum but never fully reaching anything concrete. I liked Miss Byrd as a character enough, liked her interactions with the children and Agatha the most, but it felt like suddenly that was all thrown to the side to pursue the more supernatural aspect of the book.
And while I am as much of a fan as the next person of stories about women losing their minds and refusing to submit to gender stereotypes and expectations, in this particular novel it felt just a little off. When things began to go wrong for her, when the town turned on her, was because she was literally not showering and being a bad teacher so I had a hard time empathizing I guess.
There were so many elements here that I found so interesting, like the dynamics and conservatism of little rural towns, being queer in the early 20th century, the perception of the "mad woman". But for some reason most of it felt a little undercooked to me, to feel a full impact.
I still really enjoyed it. The writing is beautiful and haunting and attests to the fact that while I felt like there wasn't a big enough climax for all the build up the book had, I still felt compelled enough to keep reading.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Hm. That was weird.
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't really consider this a horror book. It is the story of a woman (in her late 20s) that moves to a small town as their teacher. Lots of back story about this woman. Not sure anything really happens in the book that I consider horror except maybe in the last 50 pages but more like madness than horror. Don't recommend.
dark
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:
Yes
It’s very interesting to see how different authors write “going insane”