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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
This is another book which I was afraid I won’t like before I started reading and was pleasantly surprised once I did.
I picked this book because of the title, I love that kind of thing, and the cover (UK Hardcover).
Previously I wasn’t really interested in book by Erin Morgenstern, but I heard only great things about them. Things that has been proven true by this one.
It’s almost 500 pages but it’s very easy to read, I love the writing style. It was very easy to imagine the locations, even when the settings were complex.
The characters are compelling and tridimensional, with clear motivations, even though we don’t learn what they are from the get go, but once we do they make sense given what we already know about the characters.
But what I think is the strongest point going for this book is the story. And let me tell you, it’s weird. Very weird but in a good way. I love that we have all this bits and pieces that seems to not be connected and not even part of the same book but a the end it all make perfect sense and is related. I had few “wait a minute are you telling this was that all along” moments and the made perfect sense. I love books that makes you shocked because of plot twist and when you reread them you realize that the very obvious clues were there all along. Rereading this kind of books is such a delight.
I also love how this book managed to be whimsical and scary or even creepy at times and sometimes at the same time. I really wish Studio Ghibli would make a movie out of this.
The last thing that I loved was that the ending was not really a happy one. It’s just that it wasn’t sad and it’s implied that now the characters need to make it happy, which in my opinion is relatable.
I picked this book because of the title, I love that kind of thing, and the cover (UK Hardcover).
Previously I wasn’t really interested in book by Erin Morgenstern, but I heard only great things about them. Things that has been proven true by this one.
It’s almost 500 pages but it’s very easy to read, I love the writing style. It was very easy to imagine the locations, even when the settings were complex.
The characters are compelling and tridimensional, with clear motivations, even though we don’t learn what they are from the get go, but once we do they make sense given what we already know about the characters.
But what I think is the strongest point going for this book is the story. And let me tell you, it’s weird. Very weird but in a good way. I love that we have all this bits and pieces that seems to not be connected and not even part of the same book but a the end it all make perfect sense and is related. I had few “wait a minute are you telling this was that all along” moments and the made perfect sense. I love books that makes you shocked because of plot twist and when you reread them you realize that the very obvious clues were there all along. Rereading this kind of books is such a delight.
I also love how this book managed to be whimsical and scary or even creepy at times and sometimes at the same time. I really wish Studio Ghibli would make a movie out of this.
The last thing that I loved was that the ending was not really a happy one. It’s just that it wasn’t sad and it’s implied that now the characters need to make it happy, which in my opinion is relatable.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was so boring and I just couldn’t get into it. Hard to read and not very engaging
definitely one of my all time favorite books, it’s just so so good. @erin morgenstern please publish more books. i think this book might’ve put me in a reading slump because how am i supposed to find another book as good as this one?
this was such a magical and enjoyable read.
i can definitely understand why people might not like this book, there are so many different elements and stories within stories that keeping everything straight can become difficult but i didn’t really have a problem with that myself.
the writing was beautiful and lyrical and i genuinely loved every single moment.
this is a book i will be thinking about for a long time to come.
4.5 stars
i can definitely understand why people might not like this book, there are so many different elements and stories within stories that keeping everything straight can become difficult but i didn’t really have a problem with that myself.
the writing was beautiful and lyrical and i genuinely loved every single moment.
this is a book i will be thinking about for a long time to come.
4.5 stars
the writing is so good (the little short stories are the most interesting), but most of the characters lack depth and literally nothing is ever explained so a lot is just left to your interpretation.
and the ending is so unsatisfying it feels like 100 pages were cut out and instead the story just…ends.
and the ending is so unsatisfying it feels like 100 pages were cut out and instead the story just…ends.
I don’t know how to rate this book. I’m not quite sure I even know what the heck I read. But time and fate and stories and bees and keys and feathers all wove into something beautifully written. I mean, it painted beautiful pictures in my mind. Do I understand it? Nope. I have no idea what the point was and I kept waiting for something exciting to happen. It never really got there.
The book is written in that every other chapter is a “sub-story” of books referenced in the “main story”. Instead of supporting the main story arc, this pulled me out of the book over and over again. I found I was more intrigued by those stories than I ever was about the main one.
It’s a little like the movie “Inception”, but with more layers and lots of extra side stories. I feel like there’s so much symbolism in it that it would take reading it several more times to understand it all.
Overall I was disappointed because while this book carried the same beautifully written world details like “Night Circus”, it missed the make for me. “Night Circus” is still one of my all time favorite books. This one? Not so much.
The book is written in that every other chapter is a “sub-story” of books referenced in the “main story”. Instead of supporting the main story arc, this pulled me out of the book over and over again. I found I was more intrigued by those stories than I ever was about the main one.
It’s a little like the movie “Inception”, but with more layers and lots of extra side stories. I feel like there’s so much symbolism in it that it would take reading it several more times to understand it all.
Overall I was disappointed because while this book carried the same beautifully written world details like “Night Circus”, it missed the make for me. “Night Circus” is still one of my all time favorite books. This one? Not so much.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This novel was like a dream. Slowly drifting through stories upon stories. I still am not sure what I read or what I really think k of it. But it sucked me in and I enjoyed it.
The second half lost me but I liked the ending
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
In The Starless Sea, we meet a colorful cast of characters who become intertwined in a multiple-world, multiple-timeline, adventure full of rescue, destiny, peril, and romance. Fans of stream-of-consciousness and mind-bending prose will enjoy. I loved reading it before bed. The chapters were the perfect length and pacing for a grown-up "bedtime story". I'd put it in the cozy fantasy category, and think those that enjoy the genre will have a great time reading it.
What I loved about Morgenstern's writing was how atmospheric it is. You don't have to worry about following the plot. You can let the story happen to you and enjoy the ride. The only thing keeping it out of four-star territory was that I didn't fall in love with more than one or two of the characters. So the vibes were beautiful and fun, but the story didn't grab me and move me as much as I'd hoped.
All in all, a delight to read, and it's got me curious about her breakout hit, The Night Circus.
—
Note: Since everyone has different sensitivities, I don't include content warnings in my reviews. I recommend checking out more detailed reviews that include content warnings if that's something you need to guide your reading decisions. Happy reading!
What I loved about Morgenstern's writing was how atmospheric it is. You don't have to worry about following the plot. You can let the story happen to you and enjoy the ride. The only thing keeping it out of four-star territory was that I didn't fall in love with more than one or two of the characters. So the vibes were beautiful and fun, but the story didn't grab me and move me as much as I'd hoped.
All in all, a delight to read, and it's got me curious about her breakout hit, The Night Circus.
—
Note: Since everyone has different sensitivities, I don't include content warnings in my reviews. I recommend checking out more detailed reviews that include content warnings if that's something you need to guide your reading decisions. Happy reading!