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jmcglo's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book in waves. Might have rated it higher if I'd read all at once. It was well written and sophisticated. Had to go back and figure a few things out, but I enjoyed it.
michrichter1's review against another edition
4.0
I liked Monsters of Templeton a lot, so was interested in reading this. But I put this down for a while after a party scene in part 1 made me question whether I could abide these people. I'm glad I went back to it after hearing others rave. The second part of the book, where we focus on Mathilde, is really where the book shines. She's one of the most fascinating characters I've ever read.
anneyryanmcintosh's review against another edition
1.0
This is a really good example of how and why whimsy can ruin a book. I think it’s supposed to be satirical and over the top? There’s something missing though, as it’s unclear in the author-narrator-character merge if Groff wrote it this way on purpose. And man, there’s so much ugly stuff that happens - the whimsical tone clashes with the grisly abusive events of the plot. I could not see any of the characters in my mind - except Chollie and Denton, who basically looked like the same person. They were all unlikable anyway. I feel like I learned so many great writer’s lessons from this book - mostly about what not to do.
mattingtonbear's review against another edition
4.0
this one took me a lil while to get into but by the second half I was as intrigued and engrossed as I've ever been. there's a lot to be impressed by, whether it's the highly stylistic and engaging writing or the insanely well realized characters or simply the structure of the novel itself. this is nothing short of incredible. I got the feeling that the story that was being told in the first part of the novel was a lil too good to be true and sure enough the second half shows the inherent fallacy of the love on display. but the wonderful thing is that while sure, love and relationships aren't as rosy and glorious and we'd want them to be (or as works of fiction lead us to believe), in the end this book is about a couple who truly loved each other and all the complications that might entail. Groff does all of this and makes it all sing, seriously the later half of this book reads like the best thrillers jumping back and forth through time w/ quite a few plot threads coming together in a super satisfying manner. if it wasn't for the more traditional and slower paced first have this book would have easily been 5 stars. even so easily one of the best novels I've read all year.
kimchinquee's review against another edition
5.0
Such great storytelling! Love the layers of this book, the voice and tone and the beautiful language. I especially like how the last half of the book adds so much depth. Another favorite of this year so far.
kats05's review against another edition
3.0
Unfortunately, I don't have the time or focus this week or next to write a considered review about Fates and Furies, and I suspect that I won't remember much about this book in a month's time. Some passages were not only hugely entertaining but very clever and well written, and then the same style would irk me only a short while later, when I felt that it was pretentious and overwritten. I didn't mind the characters being so unlikeable, but their lifestyles, values and decisions made it hard to empathise with them.
I'm torn between giving this 2 stars in some places, then 5 in others. I suppose a 3-3.5 will be a fair assessment of my experience. I think this would be a really good novel for book clubs because it will without a doubt, polarise readers.
I'm torn between giving this 2 stars in some places, then 5 in others. I suppose a 3-3.5 will be a fair assessment of my experience. I think this would be a really good novel for book clubs because it will without a doubt, polarise readers.
esher1112's review against another edition
1.0
I don't understand how this book is so popular. I thought the writing style was so pretentious that I had to force myself to keep reading. The wife's perspective was much better but not enough to make up for the first two-thirds of the book.