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fuzzyhead's review against another edition
2.0
Had the potential to be great, but ended up being a mess. Ah well.
burntout_bookworm's review against another edition
lighthearted
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? Yes
2.0
This was one of my dad's favourites when he was younger so I wanted to give it a go. It was so lovely to read a book set in Wales but I just found the characters too whiney and it really put me off. But I guess it's for children.
gj377's review against another edition
3.0
This is a weird one for sure! Part fantasy, part legend, part creeping horror, and part just like the Famous Five or something, The Owl Service is unique.
This book has been on my radar for a very long time, and I finally sat down & read it. The Owl Service follows 3 children in the Welsh countryside who discover a set of dinner plates with owls on them, only for the pattern to disappear within hours. It turns out it's not what they found, but what they let free... The Owl Service blends together the current timeline with the legends of this Welsh valley to weave an intriguing and let's be honest, sinister, tale of the inescapability of history repeating itself.
It was an interesting read! Although, it is a children's book, and I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more thoroughly if I'd read it 20 years ago, but it was still fun. I'm glad I read it!
This book has been on my radar for a very long time, and I finally sat down & read it. The Owl Service follows 3 children in the Welsh countryside who discover a set of dinner plates with owls on them, only for the pattern to disappear within hours. It turns out it's not what they found, but what they let free... The Owl Service blends together the current timeline with the legends of this Welsh valley to weave an intriguing and let's be honest, sinister, tale of the inescapability of history repeating itself.
It was an interesting read! Although, it is a children's book, and I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more thoroughly if I'd read it 20 years ago, but it was still fun. I'm glad I read it!
themanfromdelmonte's review
4.0
This is unlike almost all modern fantasy. There’s little scene setting, you’re right into the story which is told through dialogue. The protagonists have no idea what they’re enmeshed in, there are no guides.
It’s only in the last few pages that the reader has any clue what’s happening or the danger that’s waiting in the wings (no pun intended)
The story stops abruptly and there’s no afterword or exposition. It’s only slightly spoiled by the saviour being the guy that’s been an utter knob up until the very end.
The setting is quite alien to modern eyes, even mine - and I grew up in that period.
Still, it’s worth persisting with to read an English classic. If you want to read a Garner novel where you have even less idea what’s going on, try Red Shift
It’s only in the last few pages that the reader has any clue what’s happening or the danger that’s waiting in the wings (no pun intended)
The story stops abruptly and there’s no afterword or exposition. It’s only slightly spoiled by the saviour being the guy that’s been an utter knob up until the very end.
The setting is quite alien to modern eyes, even mine - and I grew up in that period.
Still, it’s worth persisting with to read an English classic. If you want to read a Garner novel where you have even less idea what’s going on, try Red Shift
tochmarcetaine's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
lattelibrarian's review
3.0
This book was a wild ride. The first half of this book made total sense to me--Alison discovering these plates and getting totally sucked into the mystery of it all. And then the generations-old legend, which may make more sense to those who are familiar with it, and everything else involving it. That isn't to say that it isn't interesting and that it isn't beautiful--because it is. This book might just be better received by somebody else, is all.
Despite that, I found myself utterly surprised when sitting in class and discussing it, finding out that the characters in this novel are actually around 16 years old--well off from my guess of 12. And that, well, changes a lot of the dynamics.
I'd probably put this novel in the same category as The Perilous Gard, where it's beautiful and strange and there's something odd lurking nearby. It's filled with legends and archetypes and intrigue and something unsettling. Overall, this was a good book, but probably best for someone who enjoys/reads fantasy more than I do!
Review cross-listed here!
Despite that, I found myself utterly surprised when sitting in class and discussing it, finding out that the characters in this novel are actually around 16 years old--well off from my guess of 12. And that, well, changes a lot of the dynamics.
I'd probably put this novel in the same category as The Perilous Gard, where it's beautiful and strange and there's something odd lurking nearby. It's filled with legends and archetypes and intrigue and something unsettling. Overall, this was a good book, but probably best for someone who enjoys/reads fantasy more than I do!
Review cross-listed here!