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moomin333's review against another edition
3.0
The real Lulu Hurst (“Georgia Wonder”) had a brief stage career of mesmerizing volunteers from 1884 to 1885, starting in rural Georgia. Volunteers, even full grown men, would fly out of a chair or fall over from just a touch of superhuman strength that she supposedly developed after a lightning storm. This was a time in history when there were many mesmerists, séance specialists, charlatans, snake oil salesmen, and vaudeville acts… it must have been something to pay a quarter a show and see a variety act such as hers!
This book is a fictionalized account of how her family life influenced and motivated her desire to be a traveling act. It also was a treat to read how incredibly exciting it was for her and the rest of society at that time to witness the birth of electricity. I found myself actually more interested in the details surrounding everyone’s way of life and the environment around them. I also loved that time and time again it was proven that yes, people do just want permission to suspend their disbelief and instead believe in magic or the impossible.
There were some beautiful passages to this book; Jessica Handler has an empathetic way with words, and I’d gladly read more of her work.
This book is a fictionalized account of how her family life influenced and motivated her desire to be a traveling act. It also was a treat to read how incredibly exciting it was for her and the rest of society at that time to witness the birth of electricity. I found myself actually more interested in the details surrounding everyone’s way of life and the environment around them. I also loved that time and time again it was proven that yes, people do just want permission to suspend their disbelief and instead believe in magic or the impossible.
There were some beautiful passages to this book; Jessica Handler has an empathetic way with words, and I’d gladly read more of her work.
wombat_88's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
unlifeoftheparty's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
themodvictorian's review against another edition
4.0
Why so much hate/criticism for this book? Did I miss something?
endlesstbr's review against another edition
3.0
I was intrigued as I read this fictionalized story of Lulu Hurst, but I don't think there is anything about it that will stick in my memory. In a book club discussion of this novel, there was mention that it felt like an early draft, in which the setting, characters, and plot weren't developed to their full potential and we also discussed a few different avenues that could have developed the story into something more compelling. So at least this book provided an interested conversation springboard!
petermcdade's review against another edition
5.0
I love history, which may be why so much historical fiction fails to work for me. I get caught up in some small detail that feels off, and get pulled away from the world of the novel. That didn't happen once in _The Magnetic Girl_; the time period feels so right that I was instantly immersed in 1880s Georgia, and never drifted away.
And that meant my attention could be devoted to the characters, which is the reason I read fiction. Lulu is a fully realized character, as are her family, friends, rivals, and "marks." Best of all, this story about very specific people doing very specific things offers universal insights; it turns out there have always been people desperate to believe things they must know cannot be true.
And that meant my attention could be devoted to the characters, which is the reason I read fiction. Lulu is a fully realized character, as are her family, friends, rivals, and "marks." Best of all, this story about very specific people doing very specific things offers universal insights; it turns out there have always been people desperate to believe things they must know cannot be true.
terrybain's review against another edition
3.0
I thought I would like this better than I did... and honestly, I can't say that I disliked it so much as I found the pace and repetition a bit bothersome, which is frankly odd because my writing is full of just this pace and likely twice the repetition. Maybe it bothered me because parts of it reminded me of my own proclivities? I'm not sure. But there were moments when I thought "oh, not this again," and then I had to remind myself that people maybe read what I'd written with exactly that reaction. Alas.
Of course there were also matters of plot and circumstance and revelation that irked me. But being irked by plot and circumstance and revelation are hardly what I would call criticism. They just rubbed me the wrong way, and it's not always a bad idea to rub me the wrong way.
Of course there were also matters of plot and circumstance and revelation that irked me. But being irked by plot and circumstance and revelation are hardly what I would call criticism. They just rubbed me the wrong way, and it's not always a bad idea to rub me the wrong way.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
An amazing historical fiction, well written and enthralling.
It's the type of book you cannot put down and will keep you hooked till the last page.
I loved everything in this book and look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Hub City Press and Edelweiss for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine
It's the type of book you cannot put down and will keep you hooked till the last page.
I loved everything in this book and look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Hub City Press and Edelweiss for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine
floramu's review against another edition
2.0
I thought it was boring. I struggled to care about the characters and just could not, except for Leo. Handler's writing style is certainly engaging, but I feel like there really wasn't much of a story here.