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laura_cassandra's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
lewis_muir's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
andyv's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
em_harring's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. I should love this book, as the blurb on the back makes it sound exactly like the sort of novel I would not only pick up to read once, but return to again and again.
Sadly, this is not the case.
The book centers around Catherine Gehrig, a conservator at a London museum, who tries to deal with the grief of losing her lover. As she grapples with this grief, her boss entrusts her with a mechanical bird he wants her to restore. The crates bearing the different parts also include a set of ten notebooks written by the man who commissioned the bird to be built for his ill son. The reader, then, gets chapters from the point-of-view of Catherine, the man (Henry Brandling), and a mixture of the two. As the back of the book states, "Through the clockwork bird, Henry and Catherine will confront the mysteries of creation, the power of human invention, and the body's astonishing chemistry of love and feeling." Sounds awesome, right?
The book had so much potential. Its first mistake comes from the fact that the mechanical bird, easily the most interesting aspect of the novel, becomes completely overshadowed by domestic issues. There is far less of the restoration process and an excess of Catherine's problems, which I really couldn't be bothered to care about. I had a difficult time connecting with Catherine. Henry was quite a charming character, and I thought his motivation to construct the bird was endearing, but both of them could use more complexity behind their actions. Soon enough, how they felt just became repetitious and I stopped seeing character growth. As someone who adores character novels, I would have liked the novel more if the characters had been given more room to grow. This was a character novel, but not a well executed one.
The level of absurdity within the novel was maddening, as well. I can't begin to understand the motives behind Eric (who needs a hobby so he stops interfering with other people's business) and Amanda. Neither of them made any sense to me at all and their actions constantly disoriented me and took me out of the novel.
I enjoyed the fairy tale aspect of the novel, but it could have been built up a bit more. Some of the prose was also quite beautiful and clear.
What ultimately maddened me the most and is the reason I only gave the novel two stars was the end. I felt that the text hadn't earned the last twenty or so pages. The question of human existence and other worlds hadn't been prevalent throughout the novel, then it was suddenly shoved into the narration and made to be this huge deal. It wasn't clear what it brought to the overall story arch and what its purpose was within the space of the novel. Were there interesting questions brought up? Yes. These questions weren't developed, though, and could have been developed a lot better.
Thus, not a book I enjoyed. It's tolerable at parts, but holistically there are far too many character and plot holes to make me want to read this book again.
Sadly, this is not the case.
The book centers around Catherine Gehrig, a conservator at a London museum, who tries to deal with the grief of losing her lover. As she grapples with this grief, her boss entrusts her with a mechanical bird he wants her to restore. The crates bearing the different parts also include a set of ten notebooks written by the man who commissioned the bird to be built for his ill son. The reader, then, gets chapters from the point-of-view of Catherine, the man (Henry Brandling), and a mixture of the two. As the back of the book states, "Through the clockwork bird, Henry and Catherine will confront the mysteries of creation, the power of human invention, and the body's astonishing chemistry of love and feeling." Sounds awesome, right?
The book had so much potential. Its first mistake comes from the fact that the mechanical bird, easily the most interesting aspect of the novel, becomes completely overshadowed by domestic issues. There is far less of the restoration process and an excess of Catherine's problems, which I really couldn't be bothered to care about. I had a difficult time connecting with Catherine. Henry was quite a charming character, and I thought his motivation to construct the bird was endearing, but both of them could use more complexity behind their actions. Soon enough, how they felt just became repetitious and I stopped seeing character growth. As someone who adores character novels, I would have liked the novel more if the characters had been given more room to grow. This was a character novel, but not a well executed one.
The level of absurdity within the novel was maddening, as well. I can't begin to understand the motives behind Eric (who needs a hobby so he stops interfering with other people's business) and Amanda. Neither of them made any sense to me at all and their actions constantly disoriented me and took me out of the novel.
I enjoyed the fairy tale aspect of the novel, but it could have been built up a bit more. Some of the prose was also quite beautiful and clear.
What ultimately maddened me the most and is the reason I only gave the novel two stars was the end. I felt that the text hadn't earned the last twenty or so pages. The question of human existence and other worlds hadn't been prevalent throughout the novel, then it was suddenly shoved into the narration and made to be this huge deal. It wasn't clear what it brought to the overall story arch and what its purpose was within the space of the novel. Were there interesting questions brought up? Yes. These questions weren't developed, though, and could have been developed a lot better.
Thus, not a book I enjoyed. It's tolerable at parts, but holistically there are far too many character and plot holes to make me want to read this book again.
jessby's review
2.0
I have read and loved several of Peter Carey's novels but this one did not live up to his usual standard. Catherine Gehrig, horologist at a London museum, is grief stricken when her (secret) married lover dies unexpectedly. Her boss Eric Croft gives her a special project to distract her while she deals with this loss. She reads Henry Brandling's journal, owner of the complicated mechanical duck that she is reconstructing, while she does this which forms the other half of the story.
It started well and some passages were beautifully written. Although I sympathised with Cat, I found her (and the other characters to a lesser extent) annoying. I understand that grief makes you self absorbed but she really does go over the top with the special treatment she expects. In addition I started to lose the thread of the Brandling recount as it became increasingly vague and confusing. I felt the novel deflated during the second half and ended with barely a puff. Disappointing.
It started well and some passages were beautifully written. Although I sympathised with Cat, I found her (and the other characters to a lesser extent) annoying. I understand that grief makes you self absorbed but she really does go over the top with the special treatment she expects. In addition I started to lose the thread of the Brandling recount as it became increasingly vague and confusing. I felt the novel deflated during the second half and ended with barely a puff. Disappointing.
astraea93's review against another edition
3.0
Carey's skill in creating a poetic narrative is exceptional. His writing overall is something to be studied by anyone wishing to better appreciate or learn the art of creative writing.
That being said, his characters lack the depth I had hoped to find within this novel. Furthermore, the majority of book was dedicated to explaining in complex, gratuitous detail the workings of mechanical objects. I found myself lost quite often.
If you're looking for a book that will leave you feeling nostalgic, this is not the one.
That being said, his characters lack the depth I had hoped to find within this novel. Furthermore, the majority of book was dedicated to explaining in complex, gratuitous detail the workings of mechanical objects. I found myself lost quite often.
If you're looking for a book that will leave you feeling nostalgic, this is not the one.
theconstantreader's review against another edition
3.0
In a lot of ways, this book was beautifully written. It's a shame it was slow going.
I enjoyed Catherine's perspective, Henry's I found taxing.
In the middle of the book, I wished for it to be over but by the end, I felt better about it.
I enjoyed Catherine's perspective, Henry's I found taxing.
In the middle of the book, I wished for it to be over but by the end, I felt better about it.
caroparr's review
3.0
Another Carey book with a mad giant in it! Wonderfully read by Susan Lyons, again. I lost the thread a bit with the Henry Brandling part. Maybe I would do better with Carey in print...
daisyq's review
4.0
This was fascinating. I loved the chapters from Catherine's perspective: the operation of the museum and the restoration process, how she deals with grief that largely stays hidden, her relationships with her colleagues, and the way it is so firmly anchored in time.
The Henry chapters started out great, but I found them somewhat less engaging in the middle sections, when the various characters' motivations seemed... obscure.
The Henry chapters started out great, but I found them somewhat less engaging in the middle sections, when the various characters' motivations seemed... obscure.