Reviews

The Readers' Room by Antoine Laurain, Emily Boyce, Jane Aitken

kirya_aere's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

goldlimes's review against another edition

tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

ljutavidra's review against another edition

1.0

Eh, savremeni Francuzi. Uvek imate tako lepe korice, tako zavodljive naslove. Tako puno obećavate, a šta dobijem na kraju svaki put???? N-i-š-t-a.

Odmah da se ogradim; možda je do mene. Možda je do prevoda. A možda je i do pisca i knjige.

Premisa je zvučala jako uzbudljivo: jednoj izdavačkoj kući stigne rukopis i oni se oduševe toliko da odluče da objave knjigu. Kad, odjednom, krenu da se dešavaju ubistva opisana baš kao u knjizi. Nažalost, to je sve napisano zbrda zdola, glavna urednica izdavačke kuće zamalo nastrada u avionskoj nesreći i onda shvati da pati od amnezije, pa moramo da upoznajemo njenog muža, pa njenog psihoterapeuta, pa šefa (koji je preminuo, ali ona sada živi u njegovoj kući... too long didn't read fazon). A tek samo razrešenje je toliko bedno, da me evo mrzi i da vam prepričam.

Naravoučenije: ako se u naslovu spominje bilo kakvo čitanje, knjige, biblioteke i drugo, to ne znači da je knjiga automatski dobra, nauči to Nina već jednom.

shonaholmes's review against another edition

emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Raced through this one - a mystery, a publishing scene, a vibrant cast, full of intrigue...

montigneyrules's review

4.0

#readingchallenge2021 (my extra books!)

Small, charming, and fast-moving, I rather enjoy Laurain’s short stories. He has a unique skill blending fantasy, wittiness, and mystery into such little worlds- in which it is so easy to become immersed in each story, devouring quickly.

I believe the magic lies in his ability to so quickly develop strong characters; engaging the reader to expand their expectations.

This novel was set as a whodunit, framed within magical realism exploration, and written through a beautifully driven plot. Even when I felt there was a predictability in the story, there were elements spliced in to add beyond the obvious.

Always a joy to spend the day within Laurain’s new world

sshenkin's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

emilymazzara's review

5.0

This book is a roller coaster of a piece of literature! It is my first experience with a French author, but if all of French literature is even half as unique and intriguing as this, it will not be my last. My conclusion: I really need to read more mysteries.

charlib12's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

naysh's review against another edition

3.0

The mystery itself is obvious, but that's not really the point.

sgilb01's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Infidelity, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape