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beth_candish's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jennybreta's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
katherinejayne's review against another edition
1.0
After reading Birdsong a couple of years ago, Faulks left a great impression on me. However, this really was not to my taste. The narrator is difficult to empathise with and is qute obnoxious. Faulks did a great job of getting a reaction from the reader but it really does not feel worth it at all. It's taken me ages to finish this and has put me off reading for a good couple of weeks. The ending is anti-climatic. Nothing of great surprise occurs. Yet I persisted because I thought it might.
kariss182's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely a slow burner but the last 100 pages were amazing
matthew_p's review against another edition
3.0
Engleby is an unreliable narrator of the first order, and I enjoy how this allows the book to end without a sense of closure. Overall, interesting but perhaps not profound.
ovn's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 passive and slow. One of those books that’s better after you finish it and can think about it
hotbookscoldbrews's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
claudialopesilva's review against another edition
2.0
It had some really good parts, but mainly bored me to death.
itsanatnat's review against another edition
5.0
If you've got any connection to Cambridge, then the setting of this book is an extra little hidden thrill, as Faulks uses the historical town to set his intriguing little mystery and you should definitely read this.
If you've not got any connection to Cambridge in your life, then read it anyway because it is a damn good book. It's enduringly quirky, suspenseful and leaves you with a bittersweet taste in your mouth. This book doesn't pretend to be anything it's not; despite it's setting it's not pretentious (as things associated with Cambridge Uni often are) and it's riveting enough to see you through to the end.
Thoroughly recommended!
If you've not got any connection to Cambridge in your life, then read it anyway because it is a damn good book. It's enduringly quirky, suspenseful and leaves you with a bittersweet taste in your mouth. This book doesn't pretend to be anything it's not; despite it's setting it's not pretentious (as things associated with Cambridge Uni often are) and it's riveting enough to see you through to the end.
Thoroughly recommended!