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slichto3's review against another edition
5.0
I very much enjoyed this book. The story is eerie, riveting, and at times confusing. It's a mystery that keeps you guessing throughout - about what's really going on and what is going to happen.
The story is mostly told by the main character: Ella. She's a substitute literature teacher, and, after a story she writes is published, she gets accepted into the Rabbit Back Literature Society (hey, the title!). This is a society of nine other writers, all of whom became famous under the tutelage of the leader of the society, Laura White. Laura White herself is a famous childrens author. Everything seems like it's going to go great, except, at the party where Ella is accepted into the Society, Laura White disappears under extremely odd circumstances. What follows is Ella's attempts to solve a number of mysteries, including what happened to Laura White, what is the history of this mysterious Society, and why are books with altered plots appearing throughout the town?
It's all very well-written in a way that kept me wanting to read more. The author had an interesting tactic when important events would occur. He would sometimes sort of refer to what happened at the event, but in a very unsatisfying way. Then, later, the fullness of that event would slowly be fully explained. It's something that I haven't seen before and found to be very effective (after I figured out that it wasn't a mistake). That sort of thing typified much of the writing: mysterious, keeping you on the edge of understanding what was going on, which kept you reading to find more pieces to the puzzle.
I really enjoyed that effort of trying to solve the plot and the mysteries. It was fun. It was even more fun because the solutions are a bit ambiguous. It's a mental challenge - one that I relished. I'd recommend this book highly - especially if you like trying to solve puzzles like me!
The story is mostly told by the main character: Ella. She's a substitute literature teacher, and, after a story she writes is published, she gets accepted into the Rabbit Back Literature Society (hey, the title!). This is a society of nine other writers, all of whom became famous under the tutelage of the leader of the society, Laura White. Laura White herself is a famous childrens author. Everything seems like it's going to go great, except, at the party where Ella is accepted into the Society, Laura White disappears under extremely odd circumstances. What follows is Ella's attempts to solve a number of mysteries, including what happened to Laura White, what is the history of this mysterious Society, and why are books with altered plots appearing throughout the town?
It's all very well-written in a way that kept me wanting to read more. The author had an interesting tactic when important events would occur. He would sometimes sort of refer to what happened at the event, but in a very unsatisfying way. Then, later, the fullness of that event would slowly be fully explained. It's something that I haven't seen before and found to be very effective (after I figured out that it wasn't a mistake). That sort of thing typified much of the writing: mysterious, keeping you on the edge of understanding what was going on, which kept you reading to find more pieces to the puzzle.
I really enjoyed that effort of trying to solve the plot and the mysteries. It was fun. It was even more fun because the solutions are a bit ambiguous. It's a mental challenge - one that I relished. I'd recommend this book highly - especially if you like trying to solve puzzles like me!
js1512's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
luciearan's review against another edition
4.0
Mám ráda finskou literaturu, obzvláště pokud se jedná o tzv. suomikumma – „finské podivno“. Je úžasné, jak se v jediné knize mísí několik literárních směrů a přitom se vzájemně dokonale propojují.
Ale tahle kniha mě zastihla naprosto nepřipravenou, vytrhla mě z reality, do níž mě, po jejím dočtení, zase nemilosrdně vhodila zpět. Plnou pocitů a myšlenek.
V první chvíli jsem po ní sáhla proto, že mě zaujala její obálka a nemenší měrou i anotace. Ani zdaleka jsem však nečekala to, co následovalo. Kniha vás od samého začátku dokáže průběžně vyvádět z míry a zajetých kolejí a zároveň s nemenší měrou ukolébávat na vlnách příjemně plynoucího děje. Rozhodně však není čtením pro každého.
Asi jedinou věcí, kterou mohu vytknout, jsou jména postav přeložená do češtiny. Je mi jasné, proč tomu tak je, ale za sebe musím přiznat, že jsem s tímto faktem tvrdě bojovala možná víc jak do poloviny knihy a silně mě to vytrhovalo z děje. Proto ubírám onu jednu hvězdičku.
Ale tahle kniha mě zastihla naprosto nepřipravenou, vytrhla mě z reality, do níž mě, po jejím dočtení, zase nemilosrdně vhodila zpět. Plnou pocitů a myšlenek.
V první chvíli jsem po ní sáhla proto, že mě zaujala její obálka a nemenší měrou i anotace. Ani zdaleka jsem však nečekala to, co následovalo. Kniha vás od samého začátku dokáže průběžně vyvádět z míry a zajetých kolejí a zároveň s nemenší měrou ukolébávat na vlnách příjemně plynoucího děje. Rozhodně však není čtením pro každého.
Asi jedinou věcí, kterou mohu vytknout, jsou jména postav přeložená do češtiny. Je mi jasné, proč tomu tak je, ale za sebe musím přiznat, že jsem s tímto faktem tvrdě bojovala možná víc jak do poloviny knihy a silně mě to vytrhovalo z děje. Proto ubírám onu jednu hvězdičku.
eshalliday's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good, though it's frustrating how much the male author's female protagonist suffers from the male gaze.
thestoryowl's review against another edition
3.0
Straight up weird, but I was intrigued enough to finish. The story frustrated me to a certain degree and I felt dissatisfied with the ending. I wanted mystery and magic and felt all the buildup was deflated with such a mundane ending.
doppy's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
alix_n's review against another edition
4.0
Bien que la fin soit un peu trop prévisible à mon goût, j'ai apprécié le mystère, le style d'écriture, les réflexions sur la littérature et la nature humaine. L'auteur n'explique pas tous les phénomènes étranges du récit, chose que j'apprécie particulièrement.
L'extrait choisi pour le quatrième de couverture n'est pas vraiment représentatif du livre, la description sur le site de l'éditeur est beaucoup plus pertinent.
L'extrait choisi pour le quatrième de couverture n'est pas vraiment représentatif du livre, la description sur le site de l'éditeur est beaucoup plus pertinent.
tlctbr's review against another edition
3.0
Still digesting. I'm just not sure what to think about this one, but I do look forward to discussing it with my book club!
lovecyder's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0