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charlottehowell's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
beccakateblogs's review against another edition
5.0
Twelve people, linked by Victoria Park, are explored over twelve months. Mona and Wolfie, an elderly married couple, are long-term home owners in Victoria Park and are the feature of both the first and last chapter. Ten others, and their interlaced lives, are explored across the timeline in their own chapters (months), with snippets of information occasionally making it’s way into other chapters.
I loved this book! Victoria Park is a breath of fresh air, especially during the current times. Reading of somewhat ‘ordinary’ goings on and interactions between people and neighbours in what I now think of as the ‘old normal’ is lovely. It’s definitely something I miss in real life, so a way to experience that feeling of normality is always welcome!
Gemma writes in a manner that’s really easy to read. Despite sometimes tackling some tough themes, like loneliness and illness, she provided enough emotion without making it too overwhelming! I loved the way she described her characters and it got me invested in each person, despite the somewhat fleeting acquaintance. This fleeting acquaintance had no negative impact on the story, however, and I enjoyed that aspect as it was different. Everything I wanted to know and more was packed in to a chapter.
London is fantastic for its vast array of people, from differing backgrounds and with different life experiences, coming together in one place. Victoria Park really showcases this in a really fantastic and original way. It was a unique angle and it was fascinating to think of such a simple common denominator, the park, bringing so many people together.
I loved each of the characters in different ways and the fact they were all joined, not just by their homes or their jobs, but also by other means such as relationships. I enjoyed the fact we learnt about them over the course of a year timeline. My favourite aspect of this timeline was learning small snippets about characters we’d already met. This would be done in passing through the current character or in some other way within their timeline.
Victoria Park is a beautiful, honest and, at times, heartbreaking novel. I highly recommend it!
I loved this book! Victoria Park is a breath of fresh air, especially during the current times. Reading of somewhat ‘ordinary’ goings on and interactions between people and neighbours in what I now think of as the ‘old normal’ is lovely. It’s definitely something I miss in real life, so a way to experience that feeling of normality is always welcome!
Gemma writes in a manner that’s really easy to read. Despite sometimes tackling some tough themes, like loneliness and illness, she provided enough emotion without making it too overwhelming! I loved the way she described her characters and it got me invested in each person, despite the somewhat fleeting acquaintance. This fleeting acquaintance had no negative impact on the story, however, and I enjoyed that aspect as it was different. Everything I wanted to know and more was packed in to a chapter.
London is fantastic for its vast array of people, from differing backgrounds and with different life experiences, coming together in one place. Victoria Park really showcases this in a really fantastic and original way. It was a unique angle and it was fascinating to think of such a simple common denominator, the park, bringing so many people together.
I loved each of the characters in different ways and the fact they were all joined, not just by their homes or their jobs, but also by other means such as relationships. I enjoyed the fact we learnt about them over the course of a year timeline. My favourite aspect of this timeline was learning small snippets about characters we’d already met. This would be done in passing through the current character or in some other way within their timeline.
Victoria Park is a beautiful, honest and, at times, heartbreaking novel. I highly recommend it!
livb_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Victoria Park is an uplifting and emotive book which covers the lives of multiple different people who are each going through their own lives and own struggles. I felt as though this book was written in a really personable way and as the reader I felt drawn in to and like a part of the little community that the book is focused on. This book was easy to read and hard to put down - which I think is the makings of a great book! If you love a book which focus of individual characters who’s lives overlap and then it all comes together at the end then this is the book for you as it was done perfectly! I found this book really entertaining and engaging and I would definitely recommend reading it!
jess_hitch's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
jjpalala's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
jeanlarkin's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
laura_hs's review
emotional
reflective
sad
3.5
I enjoyed this book and read it in a week over my Covid Isolation over Christmas. I liked the structure of focusing on different characters each month of the year and I liked how the author cleverly interlinked the characters. Would have it if the author had given more follow up to each of the characters as there were some interesting storylines unfolding. Well written and I enjoyed the descriptions of the park and how the story started and ended with Wolfie and Mona’s story and how things had progressed over the year.
kayleigh5041's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book was read as part of a book challenge, so definitely not my typical read. The book wasn’t what I expected, different POVS for a different month across a year. However I did like this aspect and I was intrigued with these different lives that were all somehow interlaced with one another. I rated it low because I got a little bored towards the end because I just didn’t see the point of the story, there was no plot. Kinda just felt like I was looking out my window to the neighbours and having a nosy on what’s going on. Overall, an okay read but not for me, however I can appreciate the authors will to cover the beauty of Victoria Park and how it can bring people together for better of for worse.
lucsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I could not have read this book at a more perfect time and I could not have enjoyed it more.
From beginning to end there is no weak link, no forgettable or unnecessary storyline and every single character are original, realistic, and meaningful, someone we know or are.
I truly adored how the author wrote about living in a small community inside a big city, and proving that unlike what many are led to believe, neighbors still create relationships of friendship and dislike between each other, same as always. I truly loved seeing how people, even without noticing, can touch and influence the lives of so many, simply by existing or being kind to a stranger.
Something else I really treasured was the diversity: of age, class, race, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, gender…there were so many privileges and experiences being explored, and the way the author did it without taking away anyone's humanity while exposing their faults and blessings was absolutely lovely.
This is a book about being human, about finding small pieces of happiness and hope in the middle of the despair of being alive, about holding on to hope and surviving tragedies, including the tragedy of being alive and hurting. It's a book about how everything ends, and a lot of life is unfair to everyone so being kind and present matters
I truly enjoyed this book and I can barely wait for whatever else Gemma Reeves will gift us with next.
Thank you to Allen and Unwind for sending me this proof
From beginning to end there is no weak link, no forgettable or unnecessary storyline and every single character are original, realistic, and meaningful, someone we know or are.
I truly adored how the author wrote about living in a small community inside a big city, and proving that unlike what many are led to believe, neighbors still create relationships of friendship and dislike between each other, same as always. I truly loved seeing how people, even without noticing, can touch and influence the lives of so many, simply by existing or being kind to a stranger.
Something else I really treasured was the diversity: of age, class, race, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, gender…there were so many privileges and experiences being explored, and the way the author did it without taking away anyone's humanity while exposing their faults and blessings was absolutely lovely.
This is a book about being human, about finding small pieces of happiness and hope in the middle of the despair of being alive, about holding on to hope and surviving tragedies, including the tragedy of being alive and hurting. It's a book about how everything ends, and a lot of life is unfair to everyone so being kind and present matters
I truly enjoyed this book and I can barely wait for whatever else Gemma Reeves will gift us with next.
Thank you to Allen and Unwind for sending me this proof