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abigailrbrown's review
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
robram's review
4.0
This is a book to admire rather than adore. Freya herself is a complex character who is tough to love.
It's a rather old-fashioned book in many senses - concentrating on people over plot, character over cliffhanger.
Definitely worth delving into.
It's a rather old-fashioned book in many senses - concentrating on people over plot, character over cliffhanger.
Definitely worth delving into.
bianca89279's review
4.0
Freya is a young woman in the post-war United Kingdom, who managed to get into Oxford University, a very traditional, male-dominated tertiary institution. The war has opened new avenues for women, not that it suddenly became easy.
Freya is beautiful, speaks her mind and goes for what she wants. Her best friend, Nancy, worships her, although Freya turns out not to be such a good friend.
There are some romantic entanglements. Also, males taking advantage of women, and women using their charms to get what they want. The double standards are everywhere. Women are expected to be married and have babies. The so-called career women are anomalies. The changing times, morals and expectations come into play. Life is complicated. So is Freya, who doesn’t seem to be too self-aware, but she’s bull-headed about what she wants.
This novel had a very British feel about it. I particularly liked the post-war era, the descriptions felt very real. I didn’t love Freya, but I got her, I’m pretty sure I’ve known people like her. The tone was a bit off at times, I can't quite explain it.
I generally enjoyed this novel, although, I do feel it was a tad too long (as in 50 – 100 pages too long).
I've received this novel via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, Random House UK, Vintage Publishing, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Freya is beautiful, speaks her mind and goes for what she wants. Her best friend, Nancy, worships her, although Freya turns out not to be such a good friend.
There are some romantic entanglements. Also, males taking advantage of women, and women using their charms to get what they want. The double standards are everywhere. Women are expected to be married and have babies. The so-called career women are anomalies. The changing times, morals and expectations come into play. Life is complicated. So is Freya, who doesn’t seem to be too self-aware, but she’s bull-headed about what she wants.
This novel had a very British feel about it. I particularly liked the post-war era, the descriptions felt very real. I didn’t love Freya, but I got her, I’m pretty sure I’ve known people like her. The tone was a bit off at times, I can't quite explain it.
I generally enjoyed this novel, although, I do feel it was a tad too long (as in 50 – 100 pages too long).
I've received this novel via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, Random House UK, Vintage Publishing, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
brona's review
3.0
Almost a 4 star book, except for the few writerly devices that showed through at times.
This is old-fashioned story-telling at its best.
Quinn uses Freya to show us life in post-war England. We also explore broader world events and issues like the Nuremberg trials, women's rights and the homosexual witch hunts of the 50's through Freya's eyes.
http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/freya-by-anthony-quinn.html
This is old-fashioned story-telling at its best.
Quinn uses Freya to show us life in post-war England. We also explore broader world events and issues like the Nuremberg trials, women's rights and the homosexual witch hunts of the 50's through Freya's eyes.
http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/freya-by-anthony-quinn.html
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