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klarasomogyi's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A bit spoiler-y, but I can’t explain it well without, so read with caution!
I really didn’t expect an LGBTQ book from JOANNA TROLLOPE… We first interact with the mysterious woman our main character will inevitably end up and I was like… okay then. Not what I expected. Their romance is subtle, yet it blows up the whole village. While, for me it was not quite developped, I loved seeing our array of other characters react and process this event - this was the most interesting aspect of the book.
I found the novel, and the setting interesting, but have no feeling towards any of the characters, or the romance, to be honest. Everyone just goes and does something, and will probably cry in the book at least once. When the 5th character broke down, I said to myself: no way everyone’s personality is crying…
So, it was an okay read, but it literally did nothing for me, only upset me by the absurd flatness pf the characters.
I really didn’t expect an LGBTQ book from JOANNA TROLLOPE… We first interact with the mysterious woman our main character will inevitably end up and I was like… okay then. Not what I expected. Their romance is subtle, yet it blows up the whole village. While, for me it was not quite developped, I loved seeing our array of other characters react and process this event - this was the most interesting aspect of the book.
I found the novel, and the setting interesting, but have no feeling towards any of the characters, or the romance, to be honest. Everyone just goes and does something, and will probably cry in the book at least once. When the 5th character broke down, I said to myself: no way everyone’s personality is crying…
So, it was an okay read, but it literally did nothing for me, only upset me by the absurd flatness pf the characters.
shenereads's review
2.0
This was my first book by Joanna Trollope and I was completely unaware of her writing, nevertheless I loved the blurb and so wanted this to be a story that I wanted to read and like. Boy was I disappointed.
Alice is married with three children and decides to move into a house (mansion) in a village. The Grey House was supposed to be a culmination of all her heart desires. But why is this Alice does not know. She moves to the village and here is where the novel goes to hell. A reader is bombarded with so many characters that it is hard to keep track of them. Important characters are sidelined instead we are bombarded with the most inane conversations which add nothing to the story. As a reader I am unable to invest any emotions with any one of these people.
She is unhappy and not in love with her husband, does that mean she is a lesbian? Clodagh felt like a stomping immature woman. And their love story? oh well it starts off with one moment Alice needs help and the second moment Clo was frothing at her mouth with love. I did not see any character development or anything.
A complete and utter waste of my time.
Alice is married with three children and decides to move into a house (mansion) in a village. The Grey House was supposed to be a culmination of all her heart desires. But why is this Alice does not know. She moves to the village and here is where the novel goes to hell. A reader is bombarded with so many characters that it is hard to keep track of them. Important characters are sidelined instead we are bombarded with the most inane conversations which add nothing to the story. As a reader I am unable to invest any emotions with any one of these people.
She is unhappy and not in love with her husband, does that mean she is a lesbian? Clodagh felt like a stomping immature woman. And their love story? oh well it starts off with one moment Alice needs help and the second moment Clo was frothing at her mouth with love. I did not see any character development or anything.
A complete and utter waste of my time.
pixieauthoress's review
2.0
When I read the synopsis for this book I thought "Well, it sounds like she's going to become a lesbian, but if it sounds like that from the blurb, surely it'll turn out to be something different, right?" But I was wrong. It was exactly what I thought it was going to be. And despite the clues in the blurb, there weren't any clues in the story. It was just WHAM, hey, maybe the solution to my problems is having an affair with a woman? It was clear to me that the actual problem in the main character's life was that she'd married someone who she wasn't in love with. She even admitted that. So her relationship with Clo just seemed really unrealistic, and there wasn't a lead up to it at all. Both of them were quite selfish, too. It was really hard to enjoy reading this book when two of the main characters were so unlikeable, and most of the rest were just...bleh. Nothing much in this book interested me. The characters were all unappealing and I thought that the plot was pretty unconvincing. Plus, Joanna Trollope writes in a very depressing way. My grandad still maintains that he loves her work, but my mum backed me up and agreed that she found her books depressing too. So I'm glad I'm not the only one. Overall, this book was readable, but I don't think I'll be reading another one of hers. 4/10
owlbesatreading's review
2.0
Today’s THE day I am free of this blasted book!
The Village Affair was a trundle through toffee in ill-fitting wellies.
I’ve never felt so relieved to finish a book. Something kept me reading, but I’ve no idea what! (Hence the two stars, it didn’t deserve one).
It was written in the late 80’s, and it really showed. I felt quite repulsed by the attitude of the villagers. Characters that were a pompous bunch of homophobes is something I NEVER want to read about again.
I know in 1989 attitudes were different to today, but these people just lacked any feeling or understanding about everything.
This book has put me off reading anything else by Trollope, but perhaps I just picked the wrong book.
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