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pipbiz's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Death, and Blood
Minor: Racial slurs
tacochelle's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
3 girls and a teacher from an Australian private academy disappear after climbing up to the titular Hanging Rock during their school picnic. No bodies are ever found, and the event haunts everyone remotely connected to it, some more tragically than others. There's a hint of something supernatural about the whole thing, but it's never confirmed. While the truth of the mystery was published decades later, I don't thinks it's needed. It'd less about the mystery and more about how their absence affects their world. A little slow, but really interesting, and weird enough to be right up my alley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape, Vomit, and Blood
picnicatthehangingtree's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Beautifully written and atmospheric
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Blood, Gore, Grief, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, and Child abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Rape
s_l's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I liked it and it was pretty interesting, and emotionally it did have a clear ending
I don't think it was built correctly for the ending it had (which - yeah, there was another chapter that got cut, I guess the plan was a bit different), and it's more about the life of people around the disappearance rather than the actual mystery itself but it was still a nice read
I don't think it was built correctly for the ending it had (which - yeah, there was another chapter that got cut, I guess the plan was a bit different), and it's more about the life of people around the disappearance rather than the actual mystery itself but it was still a nice read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Child death, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
floatinthevoid's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Such a perfect summer read!!
It has been a while since I read a third perspective book, and it's a delight to be able to read one that is enjoyable. I like the storytelling of the narrator. It's the kind of voice like a bard telling tales from road to road about a mystery that happened on Hanging Rock.
It has been a while since I read a third perspective book, and it's a delight to be able to read one that is enjoyable. I like the storytelling of the narrator. It's the kind of voice like a bard telling tales from road to road about a mystery that happened on Hanging Rock.
"The soft summer air caressed and healed like water. They wept a little, embraced long and tenderly, abandoning themselves after the first impassioned greetings to the silent luxury of sorrow shared. There was so much to be said, so little that ever could or would be said. The shadow of the Rock lay with an almost physical weight upon their hearts."
I must say tho, there's a change of pronouns in the narrator's voice so suddenly that it just make no sense. Using "I" when there's no indication that the all knowing narrator is involved in the story, a little bit weird. But even then, the story is well-paced. The story that happens feel slow, but my reading experience is not. I dare say if I don't get distracted by real life things I can finish this in a day.
I love the vibe of this book. If you're familiar with dark fairycore aesthetic, you might like this book. It's happened in a village near the forest so there will be trees, cliffs, white gowns, long hair, boarding school, female friendship, and also the haunting air of the night, the silver moonlight, disapperances, maladies, etc. And this all is very vividly described by the author with intricate details about nature without it being too boring. Love love the vibe so much.
Other things I want to mention is thatthe mystery aspect of this book is mystery for the sake of mystery, and not something that is intended to be solved. In one hand, I find that makes the book can be categorized as a light read, as there's actually not much clues are given so the readers can't solve yet that's why readers are brought to just enjoye the journey.
On the other hand, I was expecting more things to happen. So that's that.
This is the kind of book that I will really get lost into if I have all my leisure time in my hand. A solid and pleasing read!
"It is probably just as well for our nervous equilibrium that such cataclysms of personal fortune are usually disguised as ordinary everyday occurrences, like the choice of boiled or poached eggs for breakfast."
I must say tho, there's a change of pronouns in the narrator's voice so suddenly that it just make no sense. Using "I" when there's no indication that the all knowing narrator is involved in the story, a little bit weird. But even then, the story is well-paced. The story that happens feel slow, but my reading experience is not. I dare say if I don't get distracted by real life things I can finish this in a day.
I love the vibe of this book. If you're familiar with dark fairycore aesthetic, you might like this book. It's happened in a village near the forest so there will be trees, cliffs, white gowns, long hair, boarding school, female friendship, and also the haunting air of the night, the silver moonlight, disapperances, maladies, etc. And this all is very vividly described by the author with intricate details about nature without it being too boring. Love love the vibe so much.
Other things I want to mention is that
On the other hand, I was expecting more things to happen. So that's that.
This is the kind of book that I will really get lost into if I have all my leisure time in my hand. A solid and pleasing read!
"It is probably just as well for our nervous equilibrium that such cataclysms of personal fortune are usually disguised as ordinary everyday occurrences, like the choice of boiled or poached eggs for breakfast."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, and Death
Minor: Trafficking and Rape
chiaralestino's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed the flow of the story and the mystical energy surrounding the setting, which was really impactful as a result of effective imagery. A mix of intricate and vague details gave the book a somewhat fantastical backdrop despite being set in rural 1900s Australia. It was interesting to me how the events of the book really contrasted the vestal symbols of the young girls' white dresses, flowers and vanity.
The book definitely had moments where it lost its magic for me, however the writing never felt boring. I still wish it was creepier throughout the whole text. Another reason why it isn't more than 5 stars is because it felt like it has very obvious flaws that are characteristic of white-Australian writing from the past. Despite this, I expected it to be worse so it's a nice surprise that I enjoyed it.
The book definitely had moments where it lost its magic for me, however the writing never felt boring. I still wish it was creepier throughout the whole text. Another reason why it isn't more than 5 stars is because it felt like it has very obvious flaws that are characteristic of white-Australian writing from the past. Despite this, I expected it to be worse so it's a nice surprise that I enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Child death
Moderate: Drug abuse and Suicide
Minor: Body horror
laurenzokro's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
3.0
Despite this being set in the summer, I found fall to be a very suitable time to be reading this - a mysterious disappearance that juxtaposes beautiful, vivid descriptions of the Australian natural landscape. The manner in which the book simultaneously tapped into these themes, and made them complement one another, was definitely its strongest aspect; Joan Lindsay was able to seamlessly transform a relaxing, jubilant, picturesque picnic on a sunny day into an unspoken, yet unmistakably omnipresent, horror that had much more far-reaching consequences than one would expect such a mere picnic outing to have. Yet Lindsay still made routine reference to Hanging Rock’s beauty and that of surrounding areas (even the beauty found in the world of Appleyard College) in spite of all that had occurred. This had the effect of magnifying just how jarring the effect was on the lives of those directly and indirectly involved, as well as depicting how quickly one’s sense of the familiar can be a painful - and in fact disturbing - reminder of the dark events that transpired.
My main complaint had to do with their being perhaps too much left to the imagination, and too much left unsaid. Although I understand and agree with the need to have some element of mystery as to what actually happened to the vanishing girls, it was done in a way that wasn’t really subtle - for example, we read early on about Edith watching the girls walk away and her being unable to keep up, but not only is that moment never spoken of again (albeit partially due to Edith’s forgetting of it) but it appears entirely insignificant a detail - nothing explained later in the narrative is even remotely connected to this moment. I get the idea of trying to set an unsettling tone early on, but the way that it was completely ignored made it feel like what we read about at the picnic was not of any importance. This was again frustrating with the disappearance of Miss McCraw alongside the girls, with Edith again referencing having seen her and the detail not being brought up ever again. I understand the point of leaving some details unexplained and some aspects up to the imagination, but it felt like there was just no connection in the actual mystery itself - everything that happened felt so unaligned that it felt as though we were dealing with entirely separate mysteries rather than having them weave together.
Overall, I definitely respect what it was trying to do in terms of crafting a story that could show the simultaneous beauty and horror behind the natural world, as well as
how humans interact with tragic events (sensationalizing and personalizing them as well, as we saw with the townsfolk and the schoolfolk, respectively). While I do appreciate the intrigue that played into the story’s telling, it at times felt a little more undeveloped when intended to come across as unsolvable/unexplainable. Nevertheless I do think this is an enjoyable read for the imagery alone, which definitely kept me very invested in my reading.
My main complaint had to do with their being perhaps too much left to the imagination, and too much left unsaid. Although I understand and agree with the need to have some element of mystery as to what actually happened to the vanishing girls, it was done in a way that wasn’t really subtle -
Overall, I definitely respect what it was trying to do in terms of crafting a story that could show the simultaneous beauty and horror behind the natural world, as well as
how humans interact with tragic events (sensationalizing and personalizing them as well, as we saw with the townsfolk and the schoolfolk, respectively). While I do appreciate the intrigue that played into the story’s telling, it at times felt a little more undeveloped when intended to come across as unsolvable/unexplainable. Nevertheless I do think this is an enjoyable read for the imagery alone, which definitely kept me very invested in my reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Suicide, and Murder
thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape
sarah984's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book is a tale of the unsolved disappearance of a group of schoolgirls on a picnic trip and how that shock reverberates through their community and changes other characters’ lives forever.
The points of view are all well done in terms of having different voices and showing which aspects of what had happened mattered to them. I understand from the introduction that there were originally supernatural elements that were toned down for publication and I think that was a good call.
Due to the setting and the publication date, there are a few things that seem pretty dated, including racially insensitive language and a weird obsession with bullying one of the children for being fat.
The points of view are all well done in terms of having different voices and showing which aspects of what had happened mattered to them. I understand from the introduction that there were originally supernatural elements that were toned down for publication and I think that was a good call.
Due to the setting and the publication date, there are a few things that seem pretty dated, including racially insensitive language and a weird obsession with bullying one of the children for being fat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Suicide
Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Medical content, Murder, Racial slurs, Rape, and Vomit
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