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kbookish's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Infidelity
jodar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A magnificent novel. Its elegant writing fits the late-Victorian time period and immerses the readerֹ’s senses in the environment. Its exploration of human relationships and emotions is sophisticated and complex.
The novel explores the themes of religion versus superstition, religion versus reason, friendship and love, the role of women in society and child-adult relationships. I particularly appreciated the author’s knowledgeable and nuanced portrayal of Christian life and its tensions, avoiding any of the silly stereotyping that seems to crop up so often in recent UK novels.
The characters all felt real to me: We see both their capabilities and their flaws; so too their as-often-as-not troubled relationships, in which people can care deeply for each other and yet differ strongly in their opinions and outlook on life.
Many things of heart and mind to ponder on.
The novel explores the themes of religion versus superstition, religion versus reason, friendship and love, the role of women in society and child-adult relationships. I particularly appreciated the author’s knowledgeable and nuanced portrayal of Christian life and its tensions, avoiding any of the silly stereotyping that seems to crop up so often in recent UK novels.
The characters all felt real to me: We see both their capabilities and their flaws; so too their as-often-as-not troubled relationships, in which people can care deeply for each other and yet differ strongly in their opinions and outlook on life.
Many things of heart and mind to ponder on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Infidelity and Suicide attempt
beccaand's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Terminal illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Death
resiii_05's review against another edition
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
raoulalexander's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Classism and Domestic abuse
Minor: Ableism and Animal death
tetedump's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Classism, Death, Ableism, Murder, Terminal illness, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
darumachan's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This one is a bit of a mystery for me. I read the audiobook, and often caught my mind wandering while listening. Usually if this happens, it's a sign that I'm not enjoying the book, but not so with the Essex Serpent. The pace is very slow, to be sure, and the plot and POV are constantly drifting and meandering, kind of like how I imagine Cora to be while on her long walks. Maybe that's what I enjoyed about this: the prose matched the setting and atmosphere so perfectly. It was almost like a meditation, where it's ok if you get off track or space out a little, as long as you just keep coming back.
Another thing that I enjoyed about this is that it read as including subtle but solidly affirming representation of LGBTQIA+ identities, disability, and neurodiversity. While i wouldn't say that there is direct or overt engagement with these identities, there were several characters who clearly identified as "queer" in the sense of being out of step with mainstream social expectations of the time. What was so lovely about these characters is that they found one another and formed an inclusive community in which they could live and be supported and loved not just in spite of, but because of the traits that made them "quirky" or "misfits" in other contexts. Things i noticed included possible autism spectrum, lesbian, gay, asexual, aromamtic, and polyamory. But again, nothing overtly identified, which only read as more authentic to the setting.
Another thing that I enjoyed about this is that it read as including subtle but solidly affirming representation of LGBTQIA+ identities, disability, and neurodiversity. While i wouldn't say that there is direct or overt engagement with these identities, there were several characters who clearly identified as "queer" in the sense of being out of step with mainstream social expectations of the time. What was so lovely about these characters is that they found one another and formed an inclusive community in which they could live and be supported and loved not just in spite of, but because of the traits that made them "quirky" or "misfits" in other contexts. Things i noticed included possible autism spectrum, lesbian, gay, asexual, aromamtic, and polyamory. But again, nothing overtly identified, which only read as more authentic to the setting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
Minor: Domestic abuse
anjali_13's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
xenxenwithlove's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This one was hard to rate, because I loved the writing and the characters were very human. But also, I hated the resolution of pretty much every character arc. This definitely spoiled the fun of the novel as a whole. Also, I hate an ambiguous ending. It almost never feels earned and it didn't feel earned here.
I was really torn between rating it a 4 or a 3, but gave it the benefit of being enjoyable most of the way through.
I was really torn between rating it a 4 or a 3, but gave it the benefit of being enjoyable most of the way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
lucyh95's review
mysterious
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts