Reviews

Learning to Talk by Hilary Mantel

debsd's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

aidymoose's review against another edition

dark funny reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

hay_jude's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This collection of short stories by Hilary Mantel are about childhood and growing up and seem to be quite autobiographical from what I know  of the author's life. Often quirky, always interesting and dark in places these would be a good introduction to her writing for people who haven't read her previously. Recommended.

suzgirdner's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

ikoh's review against another edition

informative mysterious reflective fast-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

4.5

janeevabaxter's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

borderhopper's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

All of these stories are loosely or tightly autobiographical. The issue of true memories is explored in the last of the stories, an abridgement of Mantel's full autobiography, Giving up the ghost.

maxxreads's review against another edition

reflective slow-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? No

2.0

lavrendy's review against another edition

1.0

boring :/

I only finished this bc I’ve given up on too many movies and books lately and needed the quick dopamine hit from finishing something lol

dswhite's review against another edition

3.0

A few short stories about being a child in Ireland. An okay book, but not my type of read.