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ellemir's review against another edition
3.0
Das Buch hat mich wirklich fasziniert - allerdings fand ich es nicht einfach zu lesen. Einige der Figuren bleiben eher rätselhaft, weil sie aus dem unzuverlässigen Blickwinkel einer kindlichen Erzählerin beschrieben werden, andere werden einfach zu knapp geschildert.
Ich werde sicher weitere Bücher der Autorin ausprobieren, allerdings habe ich mir von diesem echt mehr versprochen.
Ich werde sicher weitere Bücher der Autorin ausprobieren, allerdings habe ich mir von diesem echt mehr versprochen.
belovedsnail's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm giving this book 5 stars, but I am sure it is not really a perfect book. There are too many jagged edges for that. It punched a hole in me, however. I identified with Polly to the point where it hurt, even though our lives have been so different. There was something in her I recognised. If I had read it as a young woman, however, I am sure I would have pushed it away with horror. There is something in here about endings we can never imagine. Stories which never work out as we expect. Promise, unrealised dreams, alcohol. I have only read one other by Gardam before (Old Filth) and while I admired it, it did not have this impact.
bookpossum's review against another edition
4.0
I have discovered Jane Gardam only relatively recently, and love her spare and elegant style.
I enjoyed this book very much. The young orphan cared for very kindly by her comparatively elderly aunts, who knows almost nothing of the real world and shares much of her life with her hero, Robinson Crusoe. Despite her reclusive life, it is for her full of rich incidents as she lives through most of the tumultuous 20th century.
Highly recommended.
I enjoyed this book very much. The young orphan cared for very kindly by her comparatively elderly aunts, who knows almost nothing of the real world and shares much of her life with her hero, Robinson Crusoe. Despite her reclusive life, it is for her full of rich incidents as she lives through most of the tumultuous 20th century.
Highly recommended.
carola_janssen's review against another edition
3.0
Als luisterboek genuttigd, maar irritante stem. Kan daarom niet zo goed beoordelen wat ik ervan vind.
wrencameron's review against another edition
Ich konnte weder mit dem Buch noch mit der Hauptfigur irgendetwas anfangen.
ueberraschmich's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
penandneedles's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
aspiralingreader's review against another edition
4.0
It might be true that no man is an island, but in the first half of the 20th century women are stranded.
The language is simple and the prose feels wide-spaced, beautifully reflecting the open landscape of the marshes. I loved how the drama was subdued and all the strands were subtly woven together in the end. It starts out pretty slow though and in the beginning, it was (at least to me) not very clear, where the story was going. But you might just as well see this as a strength.
Only in the end, the Robinson theme became really heavy-handed. That might have been partially justified by those illiterate readers, that actually haven’t read Robinson Crusoe before (like me ;)) and who otherwise wouldn’t have figured out some of the themes. But I would have appreciated it more, if it had been kept in the subtext (I might be illiterate, but I’m very apt at using google).
Otherwise I would definitely recommend it.
The language is simple and the prose feels wide-spaced, beautifully reflecting the open landscape of the marshes. I loved how the drama was subdued and all the strands were subtly woven together in the end. It starts out pretty slow though and in the beginning, it was (at least to me) not very clear, where the story was going. But you might just as well see this as a strength.
Only in the end, the Robinson theme became really heavy-handed. That might have been partially justified by those illiterate readers, that actually haven’t read Robinson Crusoe before (like me ;)) and who otherwise wouldn’t have figured out some of the themes. But I would have appreciated it more, if it had been kept in the subtext (I might be illiterate, but I’m very apt at using google).
Otherwise I would definitely recommend it.
lenneke's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
blanca7's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75