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analea_lucille's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
limeykiss's review against another edition
5.0
As with all of Donoghue's book, an excellent, gripping, heart-breaking novel. Her attention to detail and her commitment to research and proper representation of history and its characters is something to aspire to.
ag_berry's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
A very different beast to Room.
I was reminded of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and Fingersmith as I read this. Emma Donoghue has used a real murder case, as did Kate Summerscale (Mr Whicher), and used excellent historical detail of the same period, that of Victorian San Francisco suffering a heat wave, to make the setting come alive.
A young woman, Jenny, known for wearing men's clothing, is gunned down in a small town near San Francisco. Blanche is certain she knows who murdered her friend right in front of her. We spend the novel discovering what led these two women to run away from the city, meeting Blanche's suave but dangerous lover and her farmed-out baby boy along the way, while seeing all the sights of a hot, murky 1870s Chinatown.
It's a long book, but I found that once I started it flowed easily and passed quickly. The setting comes to life: the heat, poverty, characters, all seem vivid as you read.
Like Sarah Waters' Fingersmith, your perceptions of the Victorian mystery keeps changing, though the twists aren't anything you couldn't guess. The author notes at the end that the crime was never actually solved so has used some guesswork and dramatic licence. I liked the way the plot unfolded, the eventual conclusion and loved following Blanche as a protagonist - a dancer, a (high clas) prostitute but unapologetic about it.
Reading a Kindle version, I do have one complaint. The glossary of French phrases at the end comes in order in which terms appear in the text. With no reference to page numbers or chapters I gave up checking the words, too much trouble to keep going back and forth looking for whole phrases. I would have preferred either page references or alphabetical order.
You don't need to be a fan of a Room to enjoy this. If you like historical fiction, crime mysteries and interesting female protagonists, this is worth a read.
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.
I was reminded of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and Fingersmith as I read this. Emma Donoghue has used a real murder case, as did Kate Summerscale (Mr Whicher), and used excellent historical detail of the same period, that of Victorian San Francisco suffering a heat wave, to make the setting come alive.
A young woman, Jenny, known for wearing men's clothing, is gunned down in a small town near San Francisco. Blanche is certain she knows who murdered her friend right in front of her. We spend the novel discovering what led these two women to run away from the city, meeting Blanche's suave but dangerous lover and her farmed-out baby boy along the way, while seeing all the sights of a hot, murky 1870s Chinatown.
It's a long book, but I found that once I started it flowed easily and passed quickly. The setting comes to life: the heat, poverty, characters, all seem vivid as you read.
Like Sarah Waters' Fingersmith, your perceptions of the Victorian mystery keeps changing, though the twists aren't anything you couldn't guess. The author notes at the end that the crime was never actually solved so has used some guesswork and dramatic licence. I liked the way the plot unfolded, the eventual conclusion and loved following Blanche as a protagonist - a dancer, a (high clas) prostitute but unapologetic about it.
Reading a Kindle version, I do have one complaint. The glossary of French phrases at the end comes in order in which terms appear in the text. With no reference to page numbers or chapters I gave up checking the words, too much trouble to keep going back and forth looking for whole phrases. I would have preferred either page references or alphabetical order.
You don't need to be a fan of a Room to enjoy this. If you like historical fiction, crime mysteries and interesting female protagonists, this is worth a read.
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.
whimsicaljune's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book as a Goodreads First Reads.
This is a book unlike any other I have ever read, and that is a good thing. The story takes place in the summer of 1876. In the beginning Jenny Bonnet gets shot and her new friend Blanche does some investigating to find out just what happened. The story jumps back and forth between the "present" and the "past" (although they are only mere weeks apart)intermingling the two stories as they go.
There is some French through out the book. Don't worry, the translation is in the back. At first I was annoyed by this flipping back and forth, but as the story went on I could swear I knew French. It is a beautiful story of both friendship and a mothers love. I would definitely recommend it.
This is a book unlike any other I have ever read, and that is a good thing. The story takes place in the summer of 1876. In the beginning Jenny Bonnet gets shot and her new friend Blanche does some investigating to find out just what happened. The story jumps back and forth between the "present" and the "past" (although they are only mere weeks apart)intermingling the two stories as they go.
There is some French through out the book. Don't worry, the translation is in the back. At first I was annoyed by this flipping back and forth, but as the story went on I could swear I knew French. It is a beautiful story of both friendship and a mothers love. I would definitely recommend it.
hamilgrom's review against another edition
3.0
In regards to its entertainment value I believe the Frog Music is a success. I was rarely bored with the characters and, while I may not always have felt emotionally connected to them, I enjoyed seeing where the plot would take them next. San Francisco makes an excellent backdrop for this story and Donoghue's page are rich in detail about the city and its many creatures. Where the book fell flat for me was in the originality and execution of its plot. I agree with several other reviewers - this book is incorrectly categorized as a mystery or true crime novel. While a murder takes place the central focus of the book is on Blanche and her personal struggles with which the audience is not always able to sympathize. Over all I enjoyed the book for what it was but I am not sure I will be returning to it any time soon.
lsparrow's review against another edition
2.0
I did not enjoy this book as much I did "Room".
I think mostly it was because I found the main character at best annoying. I found her naive and self absorbed. It also felt a little contrived.
I think mostly it was because I found the main character at best annoying. I found her naive and self absorbed. It also felt a little contrived.
kayleem93's review against another edition
Got to page 220 and just couldnt put myself through it anymore. Slow paced plodding writing. Random french inserts so jarring I kept rolling my eyes at the need to go to a flaming index at the back to figureout what was being said. Really not the book it sounded like it was going to be. Disliked everyone in the whole book except Jenny. They all felt like over exagerated stereotypes.
This is just my opinion I am entitled to one just like you please respect mine and I shall respect yours.
This is just my opinion I am entitled to one just like you please respect mine and I shall respect yours.
kleonard's review against another edition
2.0
Donoghue's short stories are much more successful, I think.