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gravesandyearning's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jen_nicole's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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
5.0
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
4.0
One late October evening, Oscar is drawn towards the chapel of King's College by the mesmerising sound of the organ playing within. There he meets the beautiful Iris Bellwether and the man responsible for the music, her brother Eden. They are from a different world, students at Cambridge whilst Oscar is a humble care assistant at a nursing home nearby. He soon falls in love with Iris, spending more time with her friends and family, learning that all might not be idyllic in the Bellwether household. Iris has soon embroiled Oscar in a plot to prove her brother isn't quite sane...
Eden believes in the power of music. He is obsessed with Johann Mattheson and his theories that music can be used to manipulate people's thoughts, hypnotise and even heal. Is he a harmless fantasist, dangerously insane or could he really have hidden talents beyond their understanding? I loved the way the music was described throughout, it really gave a sense of it without having to have prior knowledge.
The novel has been repeatedly compared to Brideshead Revisited and I can see the similarities. Certainly the style feels from a different age and the Bellwethers' lifestyle doesn't quite fit in the modern day. Iris may be more believable as a 1920s heroine but comes across as aloof, shallow and a bit too silly to be considered a medical student at Cambridge. The language of the Bellwethers felt a little old-fashioned, although their friends and those outside the circle are much more modern. Perhaps it highlights the differences in upbringing but I often had to remind myself it was set in the here and now. The dynamics between Oscar, the outsider, and the siblings is also reminiscent of Brideshead but that is where comparison ends.
Oscar is grounded in reality and his old world by a touching relationship with Dr Paulsen, an old, and often grumpy, man who he cares for at Cedarbrook. He is never ashamed of his job although he has distanced himself from his family. For all the wealth and intelligence the Bellwethers posess, Oscar comes out the end as the more worthwhile human being.
I also learned a new word, for something I really love which is always a perk of a good book (it also happens to be Iris's favourite thing):
“Petrichor. It's the word for how the earth smells after rainfall.”
I did find the relationship between Oscar and Iris a little flat. Fortunately, it's more of a psychological tale revolving around Eden's unravelling and the music that all three of the characters love.
Eden believes in the power of music. He is obsessed with Johann Mattheson and his theories that music can be used to manipulate people's thoughts, hypnotise and even heal. Is he a harmless fantasist, dangerously insane or could he really have hidden talents beyond their understanding? I loved the way the music was described throughout, it really gave a sense of it without having to have prior knowledge.
The novel has been repeatedly compared to Brideshead Revisited and I can see the similarities. Certainly the style feels from a different age and the Bellwethers' lifestyle doesn't quite fit in the modern day. Iris may be more believable as a 1920s heroine but comes across as aloof, shallow and a bit too silly to be considered a medical student at Cambridge. The language of the Bellwethers felt a little old-fashioned, although their friends and those outside the circle are much more modern. Perhaps it highlights the differences in upbringing but I often had to remind myself it was set in the here and now. The dynamics between Oscar, the outsider, and the siblings is also reminiscent of Brideshead but that is where comparison ends.
Oscar is grounded in reality and his old world by a touching relationship with Dr Paulsen, an old, and often grumpy, man who he cares for at Cedarbrook. He is never ashamed of his job although he has distanced himself from his family. For all the wealth and intelligence the Bellwethers posess, Oscar comes out the end as the more worthwhile human being.
I also learned a new word, for something I really love which is always a perk of a good book (it also happens to be Iris's favourite thing):
“Petrichor. It's the word for how the earth smells after rainfall.”
I did find the relationship between Oscar and Iris a little flat. Fortunately, it's more of a psychological tale revolving around Eden's unravelling and the music that all three of the characters love.
itsmandaaa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.25
emmagbsn9's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
adrian0giuel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Incredible! Read it in one sitting! It was so good!
sidnarwhal's review against another edition
5.0
Such a cliche, but this book is mesmerizing.
Beautifully written, the book sucks you in, hypnotizes you and leaves feeling bereft once you finish.
Really, really good
Beautifully written, the book sucks you in, hypnotizes you and leaves feeling bereft once you finish.
Really, really good
elaineruss's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up because of it's seeming parallels with the fabulous [b:The Secret History|29044|The Secret History|Donna Tartt|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327733397s/29044.jpg|221359] by Donna Tartt. Most of the books that claim to be along the lines of Secret History have always somewhat disappointed me. This one however was different ....
This is possibly one of the truest comparable books to Secret History I've encountered. It's very 'classily' written and has a slightly sinister undercurrent which pulls you in nicely and the ending was unexpected AND didn't disappoint me.
The main reason this lost a star for me was it simply took too long to lure me in. I was just under half way through the novel before I got to the 'couldn't put it down' part.
Well worth a read.
This is possibly one of the truest comparable books to Secret History I've encountered. It's very 'classily' written and has a slightly sinister undercurrent which pulls you in nicely and the ending was unexpected AND didn't disappoint me.
The main reason this lost a star for me was it simply took too long to lure me in. I was just under half way through the novel before I got to the 'couldn't put it down' part.
Well worth a read.
camilleisreading24's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a good 50 or 60 pages to really get into this book-- but from that point, I was hooked. A quote on the back cover compares "The Bellwether Revivals" to one of my favorite novels, Donna Tartt's "The Secret History." In a macro sense, these novels do have certain similarities: both are set in and around an elite college campus; both concern the induction of a curious outsider, of lesser means, into a cliquish and mysterious group of wealthy, intellectual undergraduates; both concern a tragedy at the hands of the group's de facto leader, whose brilliance is tinged with madness.
But the similarities end when one begins to get into the heart of this story, and I think that is a positive thing. Almost nobody can measure up to the near perfection of Tartt's prose-- and is it any wonder, considering she spends about 10 years writing each novel? Matt Wood's novel is very good, but it can't measure up to "The Secret History."
Oscar is a young caretaker working at a nursing home near Oxford University. He meets the lovely Iris Bellwether and is drawn into the close circle of her friends and narcissistic brother, Eden. All except Oscar are musically inclined. Eden is the resident organ scholar (who knew such a thing existed?), iris plays cello, and their friends are talented singers and musicians. This book is as much about the budding romance between Oscar and Iris as it is a psychological study of Eden's personality. He is conceited and obnoxious, but wildly talented. He seems to know things before they happen and to be privy to conversations that happen out of his earshot. The title of the novel concerns a series of experiments Eden conducts in which he uses music to heal people.
One of the things I found quite interesting about this novel is how it walks a thin line between danger and safety. The characters in the novel are often able to rationalize Eden's behavior as annoying but harmless, and it is unclear whether he is truly dangerous or simply a bit of pill for most of the book.
I liked the writing style a lot and the character of Oscar is likely to stay with me for some time. This book also stoked my interest in reading about narcissistic personality disorders, and I was disappointed that the book written by the character Herbert Crest is fictional. I would recommend this novel, but don't go into it expecting another "The Secret History." Give it a chance to stand on its own.
But the similarities end when one begins to get into the heart of this story, and I think that is a positive thing. Almost nobody can measure up to the near perfection of Tartt's prose-- and is it any wonder, considering she spends about 10 years writing each novel? Matt Wood's novel is very good, but it can't measure up to "The Secret History."
Oscar is a young caretaker working at a nursing home near Oxford University. He meets the lovely Iris Bellwether and is drawn into the close circle of her friends and narcissistic brother, Eden. All except Oscar are musically inclined. Eden is the resident organ scholar (who knew such a thing existed?), iris plays cello, and their friends are talented singers and musicians. This book is as much about the budding romance between Oscar and Iris as it is a psychological study of Eden's personality. He is conceited and obnoxious, but wildly talented. He seems to know things before they happen and to be privy to conversations that happen out of his earshot. The title of the novel concerns a series of experiments Eden conducts in which he uses music to heal people.
One of the things I found quite interesting about this novel is how it walks a thin line between danger and safety. The characters in the novel are often able to rationalize Eden's behavior as annoying but harmless, and it is unclear whether he is truly dangerous or simply a bit of pill for most of the book.
I liked the writing style a lot and the character of Oscar is likely to stay with me for some time. This book also stoked my interest in reading about narcissistic personality disorders, and I was disappointed that the book written by the character Herbert Crest is fictional. I would recommend this novel, but don't go into it expecting another "The Secret History." Give it a chance to stand on its own.
minimallibrary's review against another edition
4.0
i love a college town setting and dark academia as a genre so it was pretty impossible for me to dislike it. definitely not on the same level as the secret history (which is one of my favourites of all time) but still captured a mysterious atmosphere and had complicated characters. it did drag on for parts but overall i liked my reading experience.