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ali_w15's review
4.0
A beautifully written book with lots of intrigue. Really wanted to keep reading to tie up loose ends and find out where all of the threads were leading. Very ethereal and mystical. Found the ending a little bit abrupt and obscure which is why I couldn’t give it 5 stars. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable read.
gemmabx's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
directorpurry's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: War, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Death of parent
nightresplendent's review
5.0
Call of the Curlew is the debut novel of Elizabeth Brooks and it is simply wonderful. I've been struggling to find the motivation to read recently and this book has given me the kick start I needed. I picked it up this morning and finished it in time for lunch.
It tells the story of Virginia Wrathmell, both as a newly adopted 10 year old at the beginning of World War Two and as an 87 year old woman looking back on the event in 1940 that changed her life forever.
I know a lot of people don't like books that jump between times, but the author has written this wonderfully. She has used this method to slowly give the reader just enough information to keep us hooked.
Without giving away spoilers, the book has quite an ambiguous ending that I feel fits very well with the overall air of mystery. I like that even now I'm left guessing.
A quick search for the authour has informed me that she has signed a 2 book deal with Transworld and already I'm looking forward to whatever she comes up with!
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a free copy of Call of the Curlew.
It tells the story of Virginia Wrathmell, both as a newly adopted 10 year old at the beginning of World War Two and as an 87 year old woman looking back on the event in 1940 that changed her life forever.
I know a lot of people don't like books that jump between times, but the author has written this wonderfully. She has used this method to slowly give the reader just enough information to keep us hooked.
Without giving away spoilers, the book has quite an ambiguous ending that I feel fits very well with the overall air of mystery. I like that even now I'm left guessing.
A quick search for the authour has informed me that she has signed a 2 book deal with Transworld and already I'm looking forward to whatever she comes up with!
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a free copy of Call of the Curlew.
louisefbooks96's review against another edition
2.0
It is forgettable it’s confusing it’s a beautifully written story but there’s no direct link to what the main plot line is - I gauged it was to do with her hatred of max but who knows - then there’s the 2015 bit when she’s preparing to die I don’t see the point in that and to be honest she never said anything to sophie so what was the point in that part except keep saying I could murder her
Disappointing read but a quick one and one I will forget soon
Disappointing read but a quick one and one I will forget soon
balancinghistorybooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
penny_literaryhoarders's review against another edition
3.0
Truly, a 3.5 star book.
Atmospheric at times, too loose in others and I felt the switches from 1941 to 2015 were too quick, so did not allow for real meaty development of the suspense or of the story - of Virginia's story and very loose and not a strong sense to the "What happens next is something Virginia will regret for the next seventy-five years, and which will change the whole course of her life."
Because, truly, it doesn't happen "next" and there isn't a strong development of changing the course of her whole life - because that is never fully discussed or developed. It comes about at the very, very end of the book, so definitely not regrets we hear of over the seventy-five years. Am I babbling? Not making sense?
It was a good story, a good debut, but there were a few wobbles for me, or too many loose developments/not fleshed out as much as I would have thought there should/would be - there is an overall sense of just that little something is missing to really pull this together to be a strong 4-star read.
Atmospheric at times, too loose in others and I felt the switches from 1941 to 2015 were too quick, so did not allow for real meaty development of the suspense or of the story - of Virginia's story and very loose and not a strong sense to the "What happens next is something Virginia will regret for the next seventy-five years, and which will change the whole course of her life."
Because, truly, it doesn't happen "next" and there isn't a strong development of changing the course of her whole life - because that is never fully discussed or developed. It comes about at the very, very end of the book, so definitely not regrets we hear of over the seventy-five years. Am I babbling? Not making sense?
It was a good story, a good debut, but there were a few wobbles for me, or too many loose developments/not fleshed out as much as I would have thought there should/would be - there is an overall sense of just that little something is missing to really pull this together to be a strong 4-star read.
book_beat's review against another edition
3.0
ELIZABETH BROOKS WRITES HAUNTING DEBUT
“The Orphan of Salt Winds” starts with 86 year-old Virginia ruminating about her past, contemplating her life’s end on New Years Eve. Virginia lives on the edge of an English marshland in an old homestead named “Salt Winds.” Her story flashes back to 1939/40s when she was a newly adopted orphan arriving at Salt Winds. The dual timeline continues through the story to show the progression of Virginia’s character.
.
The story is bleak, the setting is haunting, and the characters are unsettling. It is part historical fiction (discussing WW2), thriller (the chapters quickly propel its reader), and mystery. I think the author does a good job of defining the two different Virginias (1940s/2015); there is a definite change in her character as the weight of her past crushes her present.
.
While the concept was intriguing, I did have some hangups with the book. The author jumps into the conflict with very little development between the characters, making it hard to invest in them, and some characters feel very one-demential. Sexual tension and hints of abuse detract from the story. Unfortunately, I found the book unclear in its purpose. Characters act, things happen, but I didn’t understand why. The book has good bones and a gothic noir vibe, but the characters develop predictably and were a little forgettable.
.
This is Elizabeth’s debut novel, and I see a lot of talent. Honestly, I believe the book has so many popular elements and clear prose that many will find this story to be a 4-5 star read.
Thank you, Tin House for a free review copy.
Out Jan 15, 2019.
“The Orphan of Salt Winds” starts with 86 year-old Virginia ruminating about her past, contemplating her life’s end on New Years Eve. Virginia lives on the edge of an English marshland in an old homestead named “Salt Winds.” Her story flashes back to 1939/40s when she was a newly adopted orphan arriving at Salt Winds. The dual timeline continues through the story to show the progression of Virginia’s character.
.
The story is bleak, the setting is haunting, and the characters are unsettling. It is part historical fiction (discussing WW2), thriller (the chapters quickly propel its reader), and mystery. I think the author does a good job of defining the two different Virginias (1940s/2015); there is a definite change in her character as the weight of her past crushes her present.
.
While the concept was intriguing, I did have some hangups with the book. The author jumps into the conflict with very little development between the characters, making it hard to invest in them, and some characters feel very one-demential. Sexual tension and hints of abuse detract from the story. Unfortunately, I found the book unclear in its purpose. Characters act, things happen, but I didn’t understand why. The book has good bones and a gothic noir vibe, but the characters develop predictably and were a little forgettable.
.
This is Elizabeth’s debut novel, and I see a lot of talent. Honestly, I believe the book has so many popular elements and clear prose that many will find this story to be a 4-5 star read.
Thank you, Tin House for a free review copy.
Out Jan 15, 2019.
emileereadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I saw someone else say (sorry I cannot remember who) that this book is Anne of Green Gables meets Where the Crawdads Sing and they were not wrong. This book is dark and broody and has a mysterious element that had me racing through the pages to find out what happened. The reveal had me heartbroken and uplifted at the same time. This book is unlike anything I've read lately and I enjoyed it immensely. Plus, that cover is gorgeous.
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