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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
This is my first book from this author and I really enjoyed the story. The most interesting part is the part of the story relating to the role of women in the Holocaust. This is a story I don’t often hear about or read about especially in fiction.
Loved all female characters. They were all strong roles. The men played minor characters and I loved this.
I don’t tend to like ghost stories so I am very surprised I liked this one.
Loved all female characters. They were all strong roles. The men played minor characters and I loved this.
I don’t tend to like ghost stories so I am very surprised I liked this one.
_سی‌سی سرش را از رادیواش بالا آورد و سرزنش‌آمیز گفت: "هیس، هیولا وجود نداره."
چند لحظه همه‌شان ساکت شدند، هیچ‌کدامشان باور نداشتند، حتی خود سی‌سی.
از متن کتاب
حالا این، خانم‌ها و آقایان، چیزیه که بهش می‌گم یه کتاب درست و حسابی!
داشتم فکر می‌کردم این اواخر، چه کتابی تونسته من رو مجبور کنه در حالی که دارم بیهوش می‌شم نخوابم و جوابی برای سوال خودم نداشتم. که برای من عجیبه، به شرطی که متداول‌ترین مطالعه‌م توی این روزهای اخیر کتاب دینی نبوده باشه.
داستان در دو زمان متفاوت و یک مکان واحد روایت می‌شه، ورمونت، سال‌های ۱۹۵۰ و ۲۰۱۴.
سال ۱۹۵۰.
مدرسه‌ی شبانه‌روزی‌ای به اسم آیدل‌والد که دخترایی که هیچ‌کس نمی‌خوادشون به اونجا فرستاده می‌شن. دخترای خشن، دخترای فراری، بچه‌های نامشروع، دخترایی که مشکلات هرچند خفیف روانی دارن و مایه خجالت خانواده‌هاشون هستن. و خب این مدرسه جای خیلی ترسناک و بیخودیه. کلاسای به‌دردنخور، معلمای به‌دردنخورتر، حتی دکور مدرسه و لباسای فرم و کتاب‌ها و خلاصه هیچ‌چیزی از زمان تاسیس مدرسه تو سال ۱۹۱۷ تغییر نکرده.
یادمه ابتدایی که بودم، موتورخونه پشت مدرسه بود. به خاطر صداش همه می‌ترسیدن برن طرفش. می‌گفتن اونجا یه جن هست که یه بچه بغلشه و وقتی ببینی‌ش بچه رو می‌ندازه زمین و غیب می‌شه. بماند که یه روز که درش باز بود دست یکی دو تا از دوستام رو کشیدم و بردمشون اون تو تا بهشون ثابت کنم همچین داستان احمقانه‌ای واقعیت نداره.
حالا گویا از این افسانه‌ها همه‌جا پیدا می‌شه.
توی آیدل‌والد، می‌گن روح دختری به اسم مری هاند سال‌هاست که اونجا پرسه می‌زنه. و می‌گن که بچه‌ش زیر باغچه مدرسه دفن شده.
داستان تو این بخش ۴ تا راوی داره که باهم دوستن و توی این مدرسه درس می‌خونن.
سال ۲۰۱۴.
دختری به اسم فیونا (در واقع ۳۷ سالشه، ولی خب من بهش می‌گم دختر) که بیست سال پیش، خواهر بزرگترش به قتل رسیده و جنازه‌ش رو وسط حیاط آیدل‌والد پیدا کرده‌ن. قاتلش توی زندانه، هرچند که هیچ‌وقت واقعا به جرمش اعتراف نکرده. و حالا بعد از ۲۰ سال، یه نفر ملک مدرسه رو خریده و می‌خواد بازسازی‌ش کنه. اما سوالی که فیونا نمی‌تونه جوابش رو پیدا کنه، اینه که چرا کسی باید این‌همه پول رو صرف پروژه‌ای بکنه که هر بچه‌ای هم می‌فهمه کوچک‌ترین سودی نداره.
خلاصه‌ی خیلی طولانی‌ای شد.
من خیلی ازش خوشم اومد!
یه سری چیزا کمی بی‌مقدمه وارد داستان شدن، اون اول اول هم نتونست کامل جذبم کنه. هرچند که بعد از چند فصل این حالت کاملا از بین رفت. نمی‌دونم شاید ایرادهای دیگه‌ای هم بشه بهش وارد کرد. (حس می‌کنم فقط یه ایرادهایی نوشتم که بگم بی‌نقص نبوده. :/ خب مشخصه که باید یه کم از کتاب رو بخونی تا به ادامه‌ش جذب بشی!)
اما من واقعا ازش لذت بردم.
مخصوصا با شخصیت‌های دخترا تو سال ۱۹۵۰ احساس نزدیکی بیشتری کردم، که خب قاعدتا با توجه به سن نزدیکمون طبیعی هم هست.
داستان یه جوری کشش داشت که واقعا نتونستم خودم رو راضی کنم که بذارمش کنار. موقع پایان هم مثل یه داستان پلیسی/کارآگاهی خوب (از ژانرهای به شدت موردعلاقه‌مه اما آخر هم اسمش رو یاد نگرفتم) گره‌ها دونه دونه باز می‌شدن و واقعا هم قابل پیش‌بینی نبودن. یه چاشنی ماوراءالطبیعه هم داشت که واقعا... بابا تشویق کنید این کتاب رو! باور کنید لیاقتش رو داره.
ترجمه‌ش هم خوب بود. معلوم بود که مترجم می‌دونه داره چه کار می‌کنه. حدس می‌زنم یه جاهایی نیمچه سانسوری هم بوده باشه، ولی مطمئن نیستم و فقط و فقط در حد حدسه. اگر هم بوده درست و حسابی بوده و اصلا تو ذوق نمی‌زد.
خلاصه که، واقعا ارزش وقتی که براش گذاشتم رو داشت.
و از این به بعد به دیگران هم پیشنهادش خواهم کرد. :/
فقط اسم فارسی‌ش خیلی جذاب نبود... شایدم فقط نظر منه. عنوان اصلی، خیلی جالب‌تر بود. ولی هرچی فکر کردم به نتیجه بهتری برای عنوان نرسیدم.
چند لحظه همه‌شان ساکت شدند، هیچ‌کدامشان باور نداشتند، حتی خود سی‌سی.
از متن کتاب
حالا این، خانم‌ها و آقایان، چیزیه که بهش می‌گم یه کتاب درست و حسابی!
داشتم فکر می‌کردم این اواخر، چه کتابی تونسته من رو مجبور کنه در حالی که دارم بیهوش می‌شم نخوابم و جوابی برای سوال خودم نداشتم. که برای من عجیبه، به شرطی که متداول‌ترین مطالعه‌م توی این روزهای اخیر کتاب دینی نبوده باشه.
داستان در دو زمان متفاوت و یک مکان واحد روایت می‌شه، ورمونت، سال‌های ۱۹۵۰ و ۲۰۱۴.
سال ۱۹۵۰.
مدرسه‌ی شبانه‌روزی‌ای به اسم آیدل‌والد که دخترایی که هیچ‌کس نمی‌خوادشون به اونجا فرستاده می‌شن. دخترای خشن، دخترای فراری، بچه‌های نامشروع، دخترایی که مشکلات هرچند خفیف روانی دارن و مایه خجالت خانواده‌هاشون هستن. و خب این مدرسه جای خیلی ترسناک و بیخودیه. کلاسای به‌دردنخور، معلمای به‌دردنخورتر، حتی دکور مدرسه و لباسای فرم و کتاب‌ها و خلاصه هیچ‌چیزی از زمان تاسیس مدرسه تو سال ۱۹۱۷ تغییر نکرده.
یادمه ابتدایی که بودم، موتورخونه پشت مدرسه بود. به خاطر صداش همه می‌ترسیدن برن طرفش. می‌گفتن اونجا یه جن هست که یه بچه بغلشه و وقتی ببینی‌ش بچه رو می‌ندازه زمین و غیب می‌شه. بماند که یه روز که درش باز بود دست یکی دو تا از دوستام رو کشیدم و بردمشون اون تو تا بهشون ثابت کنم همچین داستان احمقانه‌ای واقعیت نداره.
حالا گویا از این افسانه‌ها همه‌جا پیدا می‌شه.
توی آیدل‌والد، می‌گن روح دختری به اسم مری هاند سال‌هاست که اونجا پرسه می‌زنه. و می‌گن که بچه‌ش زیر باغچه مدرسه دفن شده.
داستان تو این بخش ۴ تا راوی داره که باهم دوستن و توی این مدرسه درس می‌خونن.
سال ۲۰۱۴.
دختری به اسم فیونا (در واقع ۳۷ سالشه، ولی خب من بهش می‌گم دختر) که بیست سال پیش، خواهر بزرگترش به قتل رسیده و جنازه‌ش رو وسط حیاط آیدل‌والد پیدا کرده‌ن. قاتلش توی زندانه، هرچند که هیچ‌وقت واقعا به جرمش اعتراف نکرده. و حالا بعد از ۲۰ سال، یه نفر ملک مدرسه رو خریده و می‌خواد بازسازی‌ش کنه. اما سوالی که فیونا نمی‌تونه جوابش رو پیدا کنه، اینه که چرا کسی باید این‌همه پول رو صرف پروژه‌ای بکنه که هر بچه‌ای هم می‌فهمه کوچک‌ترین سودی نداره.
خلاصه‌ی خیلی طولانی‌ای شد.
من خیلی ازش خوشم اومد!
یه سری چیزا کمی بی‌مقدمه وارد داستان شدن، اون اول اول هم نتونست کامل جذبم کنه. هرچند که بعد از چند فصل این حالت کاملا از بین رفت. نمی‌دونم شاید ایرادهای دیگه‌ای هم بشه بهش وارد کرد. (حس می‌کنم فقط یه ایرادهایی نوشتم که بگم بی‌نقص نبوده. :/ خب مشخصه که باید یه کم از کتاب رو بخونی تا به ادامه‌ش جذب بشی!)
اما من واقعا ازش لذت بردم.
مخصوصا با شخصیت‌های دخترا تو سال ۱۹۵۰ احساس نزدیکی بیشتری کردم، که خب قاعدتا با توجه به سن نزدیکمون طبیعی هم هست.
داستان یه جوری کشش داشت که واقعا نتونستم خودم رو راضی کنم که بذارمش کنار. موقع پایان هم مثل یه داستان پلیسی/کارآگاهی خوب (از ژانرهای به شدت موردعلاقه‌مه اما آخر هم اسمش رو یاد نگرفتم) گره‌ها دونه دونه باز می‌شدن و واقعا هم قابل پیش‌بینی نبودن. یه چاشنی ماوراءالطبیعه هم داشت که واقعا... بابا تشویق کنید این کتاب رو! باور کنید لیاقتش رو داره.
ترجمه‌ش هم خوب بود. معلوم بود که مترجم می‌دونه داره چه کار می‌کنه. حدس می‌زنم یه جاهایی نیمچه سانسوری هم بوده باشه، ولی مطمئن نیستم و فقط و فقط در حد حدسه. اگر هم بوده درست و حسابی بوده و اصلا تو ذوق نمی‌زد.
خلاصه که، واقعا ارزش وقتی که براش گذاشتم رو داشت.
و از این به بعد به دیگران هم پیشنهادش خواهم کرد. :/
فقط اسم فارسی‌ش خیلی جذاب نبود... شایدم فقط نظر منه. عنوان اصلی، خیلی جالب‌تر بود. ولی هرچی فکر کردم به نتیجه بهتری برای عنوان نرسیدم.
In this book, the reader goes back and forth between present day (2014) and the past (1950s ish).
The past is based on an all girl's reformatory school called Idlewilde Hall. We follow 4 girls, mostly, who were roommates at the school: Katie, Ce-Ce, Roberta, and Sonia. The girls that are sent here are supposedly too wild, disobedient, promiscuous, just any sort of trouble. Their family either doesn't want to deal with them, or they think they can't, so they send them to this school. Once the girls are here, they're lucky if they get letters from their family, let alone a visit once a year. So as the reader goes on, you learn about why each of these 4 girls is at Idlewilde.
Suddenly, Sonia goes missing. The school tells the students that it appears she has run away, but her friends don't believe this for one second. We find out later that Sonia came from an internment camp, and while at Idlewilde, she crossed paths with a woman who was a guard at the same camp. Afraid that Sonia would blow her cover, the lady ends up murdering Sonia by hitting her in the head with a blunt object and dropping her body in a well that sat on the property. The murder isn't solved because Sonia was supposed to be traveling to visit a long lost aunt and uncle, and she never made it back to the school. Her suitcase was found, but never Sonia. So, the school assumed she ran away with a boy.
In the 'present' day, we follow Fiona. She is a journalist whose sister was murdered 20 years ago, and her body was found near Idlewilde. The sister's boyfriend was tried and convicted for the murder of the sister, but it continues to haunt Fiona. Fiona discovers that Idlewilde is being restored, so she decides to write a story about it. Who wants to restore this school, and why?
The whole theme and atmosphere of the book is dark and intense.
There is some paranormal activity in the book. It's not the main plot by any means, but it does have a role in the book. I'm not a fan of reading anything about ghosts/paranormal themes, and had I known this topic would be present prior to reading the book, I probably wouldn't have bothered. Since that's obviously not the case, I would say I don't regret reading the book, and the paranormal aspect wasn't big enough for me to DNF the book. But, it's something I think a reader should know before going in.
I definitely enjoyed the book more when I was reading from the past. I found it to be far more interesting and detailed and captivating than the present day parts of the book. I think the characters were well developed and believable. The book mostly kept my attention, and it was a different storyline than I've read before, but I didn't feel that need that I just had to get back to my book to finish reading it.
The past is based on an all girl's reformatory school called Idlewilde Hall. We follow 4 girls, mostly, who were roommates at the school: Katie, Ce-Ce, Roberta, and Sonia. The girls that are sent here are supposedly too wild, disobedient, promiscuous, just any sort of trouble. Their family either doesn't want to deal with them, or they think they can't, so they send them to this school. Once the girls are here, they're lucky if they get letters from their family, let alone a visit once a year. So as the reader goes on, you learn about why each of these 4 girls is at Idlewilde.
Suddenly, Sonia goes missing. The school tells the students that it appears she has run away, but her friends don't believe this for one second. We find out later that Sonia came from an internment camp, and while at Idlewilde, she crossed paths with a woman who was a guard at the same camp. Afraid that Sonia would blow her cover, the lady ends up murdering Sonia by hitting her in the head with a blunt object and dropping her body in a well that sat on the property. The murder isn't solved because Sonia was supposed to be traveling to visit a long lost aunt and uncle, and she never made it back to the school. Her suitcase was found, but never Sonia. So, the school assumed she ran away with a boy.
In the 'present' day, we follow Fiona. She is a journalist whose sister was murdered 20 years ago, and her body was found near Idlewilde. The sister's boyfriend was tried and convicted for the murder of the sister, but it continues to haunt Fiona. Fiona discovers that Idlewilde is being restored, so she decides to write a story about it. Who wants to restore this school, and why?
The whole theme and atmosphere of the book is dark and intense.
There is some paranormal activity in the book. It's not the main plot by any means, but it does have a role in the book. I'm not a fan of reading anything about ghosts/paranormal themes, and had I known this topic would be present prior to reading the book, I probably wouldn't have bothered. Since that's obviously not the case, I would say I don't regret reading the book, and the paranormal aspect wasn't big enough for me to DNF the book. But, it's something I think a reader should know before going in.
I definitely enjoyed the book more when I was reading from the past. I found it to be far more interesting and detailed and captivating than the present day parts of the book. I think the characters were well developed and believable. The book mostly kept my attention, and it was a different storyline than I've read before, but I didn't feel that need that I just had to get back to my book to finish reading it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Absolutely brilliant!!! I loved The Sundown Motel, but I love this book even more! 5 stars isn't enough! Safe to say that Simone St. James is like a fine wine and her writing gets better with time!
The boarding school Idlewild Hall sets the stage: as a bleak, joyless dumping ground for unwanted girls in 1950, and no more than haunting ruins in 2014.
In 1950, we follow four students who have been shunted off to Idlewild Hall by their parents. Making the best of their situation, they have each other's backs during the day and spend their nights sharing whispered secrets, fears, and hopes. Former student Mary Hand is said to haunt the school as a malevolent spirit – and then one of the girls disappears shortly after a sighting…
In 2014, the novel follows Fiona Sheridan, a journalist determined to solve the decades-old mystery of her sister's murder, whose body was found on the grounds of Idlewild Hall. Dark secrets come to light, as Fiona unravels the school's history.
The characters are mostly written well, with distinct personalities, believable strengths and weaknesses, and multi-layered backstories. Though I wish that a few of the minor characters, who were left with blank spots in their characterization, were explored in even more depth.
Intricately layered, the plot knits together gothic mystery, eerie ghost story and contemporary crime drama. With engaging storytelling, Simone St. James creates an atmospheric narrative that evokes a feeling of chilling suspense. Despite the genre-blend and the dual timelines, the storyline makes sense and its plot twists are believable – if you accept the novel's unique framework and are not averse to a story with a hint of the paranormal!
The resolution might be just a bit too clean, not fully embracing the haunting, sometimes gritty feeling of its build-up. A few aspects of the motivation behind the crime were explained with a broad stroke, brushing over the details.
Still, the evocative atmosphere makes up for the minor points of criticism. »The Broken Girls« might not be perfect, but it's a captivating read that successfully combines multiple genres to deliver a unique and engaging experience.
In 1950, we follow four students who have been shunted off to Idlewild Hall by their parents. Making the best of their situation, they have each other's backs during the day and spend their nights sharing whispered secrets, fears, and hopes. Former student Mary Hand is said to haunt the school as a malevolent spirit – and then one of the girls disappears shortly after a sighting…
In 2014, the novel follows Fiona Sheridan, a journalist determined to solve the decades-old mystery of her sister's murder, whose body was found on the grounds of Idlewild Hall. Dark secrets come to light, as Fiona unravels the school's history.
The characters are mostly written well, with distinct personalities, believable strengths and weaknesses, and multi-layered backstories. Though I wish that a few of the minor characters, who were left with blank spots in their characterization, were explored in even more depth.
Intricately layered, the plot knits together gothic mystery, eerie ghost story and contemporary crime drama. With engaging storytelling, Simone St. James creates an atmospheric narrative that evokes a feeling of chilling suspense. Despite the genre-blend and the dual timelines, the storyline makes sense and its plot twists are believable – if you accept the novel's unique framework and are not averse to a story with a hint of the paranormal!
The resolution might be just a bit too clean, not fully embracing the haunting, sometimes gritty feeling of its build-up. A few aspects of the motivation behind the crime were explained with a broad stroke, brushing over the details.
Still, the evocative atmosphere makes up for the minor points of criticism. »The Broken Girls« might not be perfect, but it's a captivating read that successfully combines multiple genres to deliver a unique and engaging experience.