Reviews

The Piano: A Novel by Jane Campion, Kate Pullinger

aldozirsov's review against another edition

3.0

buku script film The Piano by Jane Champion. Winner of the Palme D'Or, Cannes 1993

kirjoihinkadonnut's review

3.0

Kummallinen tarina, joka jäi etäiseksi. Jos kerronta olisi taipunut herättämään enemmän tunteita, tämä kirja olisi voinut olla hyvinkin tunteikas lukukokemus. Tälläisenään tarina tuntui omituiselta, mutta tulkitsisin tämän olevan ennenkaikkea oodi musiikille.

pagesofnectar's review

2.0

How do I put my thoughts into words? How about... what in the world went wrong with this book? Everything was happenning so fast, it felt as if it lacked all sorts of development and explanations and the plot was moving so hastily. And that's not even my problem. The problem is; how am I supposed to view the presented relationship as sweet, heartwarming, romantic?

Spoiler

I get that they made a deal with her agreement and that they fell in love in the end and she really liked him from the beginning and blah, blah, blah, whatever. But, my dear friends - and this is not a feminism attack, just pure logic speaking - I don't think this is at all romantic or ideal and it shouldn't be romanticized. He was practically harrassing her, at least in the beginning. He made a deal with her that was practically blackmailing and THAT IS JUST NO WAY TO APPROACH ANOTHER HUMAN BEING, NO MATTER HOW IN LOVE WITH THEM YOU ARE, THAT IS NO EXCUSE, LIKE OMG, I'M SO ANGRY. I can't believe there are people who actually see this as a perfect, worth-being-jealous-of romance. Your opinions are, however, respected. I just really disliked the way his actions were romanticized. Hopefully the movie won't romanticize toxic masculinity!

lubleu's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

andrewtaets's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Jane Campion is a genius.

jedore's review

4.0

I was sure this book would be one of my all-time favorites because I absolutely love the movie. However, the writing style (I believe it's called the 'passive voice'?) kept me at an emotional distance from the story unlike the movie, which was intensely passionate. It was my visual memories of Holly Hunter, Anna Paquin, Harvey Keitel and Sam Neill that kept me engrossed in the written story. I did appreciate that the book delved into Ada's past, telling the story of why she does not speak. I also thought it interesting how Ada's will is portrayed as an almost separate being, surprising even Ada at times throughout the story. In the case of The Piano, I would break my very strict rule and suggest seeing the movie first and then reading the book.

katglenn77's review

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

yas_8242's review

1.0

trash

katie_king's review against another edition

4.0

Interesting to read the script of the movie; now I think I'd like to read the novelisation of the screenplay. And maybe see the movie again.
The script and the movie combined have convinced me that I would never ever want to live in New Zealand, at least not on the North Island. It did make me understand why New Zealanders love living in British Columbia's coastal rainforest.
Compare, if you wish, Robert Altman's McCabe and Mrs. Miller.

nimrodiel's review

5.0

This is, I think one of the most sensual and moving books that I have read this year.