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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I found this on a Stephen King best books of 2008 list. I have never read a Stephen King book, but maybe I should because I seem to really enjoy the books he recommends!
This book did not hold my interest. Well crafted words but the plot didn't draw me in.
Very close to a 5, really a 4.5, to be remembered mostly for the chilly setting, and the manner in which the narration flits between characters. There are hints of Heart of Darkness towards the end of the story, which is distracting. The conclusion is not as strong as the opening. The language is often powerful.
I enjoyed the overall story line of this book and the ability of the author to create such a complex, interwoven conflict taking place in a vast, sweeping setting with dozens of characters. That being said, the constant change of pov narration was incredibly frustrating and convoluted. Though it never changes from an omniscient third person sentence structure, the reader is consistently left to suss out which character is being focused upon. This deduction taking any number of sentences to make, as the story boasts a startlingly large and arguably unnecessary cast of characters. This chapter-by chapter change of setting/character with no given indication is exhausting and very distracting from the plot line itself. Finally, though full of diverse characters, all careering along their respective and unique plot arcs, the conclusion of the storyline itself left all surviving characters completely and bafflingly unresolved. Proving to be a most unsatisfying finish for a novel that inherently requires so much of its reader.
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
I like the idea of this story better than the actual telling of it.
Dark, intense, well-written historical murder mystery. The story begins with the death of a French-Canadian trapper in a small frontier town in the 1860s and the search for his murderer. For me though, this story line takes a backseat to the other interconnected stories that subsequently unfold because of the murder. Most of the characters involved in the hunt for this murderer seem to really be searching for something else-- be it justice, love, answers to another mystery or a piece of bone or otherwise--and the original plot is just the catapult for the author to bring in these other plots.
The only issues I had with the book was the overabundance of characters and story lines which at different times in the book detracted from the overall entertainment of the story. A very captivating story though and worth the read.
The only issues I had with the book was the overabundance of characters and story lines which at different times in the book detracted from the overall entertainment of the story. A very captivating story though and worth the read.
I haven't had such a love/hate relationship with a novel in years.
I LOVED:
the setting, the characters, the world-building, the visuals, and the story.
I HATED:
the style/structure.
It's aggravatingly apparent that Penney is a screenwriter first and a beginner novelist. Parts of the book are grossly underwritten and sweeping visuals stand in for logical segues. But at the same time, the setting is a character in its own right and gets to play (wonderfully) with metaphor.
Can I give it 3.5 stars? Parts are really wonderful, especially the longest, most fully written scenes.
Also, yay for more historical queer romance. :)
I LOVED:
the setting, the characters, the world-building, the visuals, and the story.
I HATED:
the style/structure.
It's aggravatingly apparent that Penney is a screenwriter first and a beginner novelist. Parts of the book are grossly underwritten and sweeping visuals stand in for logical segues. But at the same time, the setting is a character in its own right and gets to play (wonderfully) with metaphor.
Can I give it 3.5 stars? Parts are really wonderful, especially the longest, most fully written scenes.
Also, yay for more historical queer romance. :)
I finished this today, just in time for Book Club! It is such a good book. Very slow in the beginning, but the ending does NOT disappoint!!