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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
Not really sure what I just read. I don’t think I’m smart enough for this book. But I enjoyed it
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The kind of book you describe as “provocative” and mean it as a compliment.
Beyond the thematic weight, what a tremendous act of writing — a misdirection, where you don’t see how the parallel plots fit until they clatter together dramatically.
She pulls off a trick I don’t know that I’ve seen before: an unreliable third-person narrator. Characters sometimes play out entire scenes that are, in fact, all imagined by someone else.
It makes me irrationally angry Catton published something this confident, this daring, as a master’s thesis at 23.
Beyond the thematic weight, what a tremendous act of writing — a misdirection, where you don’t see how the parallel plots fit until they clatter together dramatically.
She pulls off a trick I don’t know that I’ve seen before: an unreliable third-person narrator. Characters sometimes play out entire scenes that are, in fact, all imagined by someone else.
It makes me irrationally angry Catton published something this confident, this daring, as a master’s thesis at 23.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reality merges into imagination and stage drama in this high-concept novel. The book partially collapses under the weight of its own pretentiousness, its flowery language and philosophical introspection. But redeeming the book somewhat are:
a) Catton's depictions of the sociology of adolescent girls. To be fair, I didn't move in those kind of circles as a teenager so I never experienced most of the pressures involved in popular-girl-cliques. But it rang quite true nonetheless
b) a (presumably) satirical view of a drama school. Just how satirical I couldn't say
c) many of the characters are highly entertaining, especially the music teacher, and the author writes them engaged in a type of radical honesty (at least in their own imaginations) that makes me smile.
a) Catton's depictions of the sociology of adolescent girls. To be fair, I didn't move in those kind of circles as a teenager so I never experienced most of the pressures involved in popular-girl-cliques. But it rang quite true nonetheless
b) a (presumably) satirical view of a drama school. Just how satirical I couldn't say
c) many of the characters are highly entertaining, especially the music teacher, and the author writes them engaged in a type of radical honesty (at least in their own imaginations) that makes me smile.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In her interestingly original debut novel, Catton explores the experiences of secondary school and tertiary college students rehearsing for adult life. It takes time to settle in to her style and structure and to adapt to the way her characters talk in a stream of consciousness that often has a frankness and honesty that we do not usually experience in our everyday interactions. There's a lot going on and perseverance is rewarded.
Before The Luminaries, there was this novel. A fraction of the size thank goodness, as I actually found it considerably more difficult to read than The Luminaries. Ms Catton was only 23 when this was published, and it is extraordinary writing for one so young. Not only in her plot and its development but in the depth and complexity of her characters. I can't say I enjoyed reading this, there is so much going on, her characters are more complex than most people I know, I am not even really entirely sure what it is all about! But being Eleanor Catton writing, out of sheer respect for her I did read it to the end. None the wiser really I am afraid. However I can very clearly see where the magic that is The Luminaries has come from. There are plenty of sections of writing in the book that are stunning and beautiful, the joy of writing and the joy of words are everywhere. From reading on-line reviews there are plenty of people out there who really like this earlier novel of hers.
The story centres on a group of teenagers - girls at a girls' school, where an older teacher and a 17 year old student have been found out. There is plenty of angst, hand wringing and teenage girls trying to find their own sexual selves in the emotionally ridden atmosphere that results. There is also a second group of older teenagers - 1st year drama students who are competing with each other for attention from the instructors in voice, movement, mime. The two groups do come together, but it is all really quite strange. I venture to suggest that perhaps this book is about teenagers finding themselves, the search for identity, what fitting in really means, first love, first sexual experience.
But really to be truly honest, I don't think I got it! It is confusing, I am not sure where it was supposed to be going to, and despite my perserverance it just did not come together for me. Glad I read The Luminaries before this.
The story centres on a group of teenagers - girls at a girls' school, where an older teacher and a 17 year old student have been found out. There is plenty of angst, hand wringing and teenage girls trying to find their own sexual selves in the emotionally ridden atmosphere that results. There is also a second group of older teenagers - 1st year drama students who are competing with each other for attention from the instructors in voice, movement, mime. The two groups do come together, but it is all really quite strange. I venture to suggest that perhaps this book is about teenagers finding themselves, the search for identity, what fitting in really means, first love, first sexual experience.
But really to be truly honest, I don't think I got it! It is confusing, I am not sure where it was supposed to be going to, and despite my perserverance it just did not come together for me. Glad I read The Luminaries before this.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Hmm, not sure about this one. I enjoyed reading it and was compelled by the storyline but when I reached the end I felt like i'd missed the point somehow.