Scan barcode
booksinthetreehouse's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
elittle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sandeestarlite's review against another edition
4.0
The story of Lev, who moves to London to seek his fortune after his wife dies and the lumber mill closes in his small rural town. Fish out of water story of a man who is used to having others take care of him. He unconsciously seeks out the same sort of person there but eventually learns how to stand a little on his own.
helenh1975's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
marcellaandherbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia
Minor: Hate crime
ecari's review against another edition
4.0
This book unfolds slowly and deliberately. If you are in a hurry or looking for a 'quick fix,' you'll give up within a chapter or so. But the writing is magnificent - it pulled me along, enticing me to keep turning the pages - and the characters are so real, I could almost smell them. The main character is a man named Lev, who emigrates to London from Eastern Europe to earn money for his mother and daughter after losing his wife and job in his hometown. His story is laced with grief and tremendous adversity - at times self-generated. His family, friends and enemies are familiar, because they are like so many people, but also exciting and fascinating, because Rose Tremain has done such an exquisite job of describing them through their interactions with Lev. This book gains momentum as you read and culminates beautifully but tinged with sadness.
christiek's review against another edition
5.0
Despite its forgettable title, I loved this book. Lev is in such a hard spot and although he's incredibly flawed, he's a good guy. Other characters are less developed, but interesting and sometimes maddening. I really enjoyed the pacing and the story development. I was always eager to pick the book up again, but I didn't race through so quickly I was done with the book before I was ready to be done with story.
Okay, so it wraps up awfully neatly, but so what. Tidy endings sometimes feel right.
Okay, so it wraps up awfully neatly, but so what. Tidy endings sometimes feel right.
rhodaj's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
_pickle_'s review against another edition
4.0
A often beautiful, often sad, yet ultimately triumph book. Lev's struggle, of moving from some Eastern European country to England feels real and is written in a sophisticated and wonderful way. It is hard to always like Lev, but most of the time you do sympathise him and even at times admire his strength. He is a very human and nuanced character in a story that is largely also human and nuanced, with only a degree of contrivance.
It is a novel that satisfies. The ancient story of rags to riches, but not always perfect happiness, appeals and Tremain executes it with wit and flair. It is a quietly beautiful book and well worth reading.
It is a novel that satisfies. The ancient story of rags to riches, but not always perfect happiness, appeals and Tremain executes it with wit and flair. It is a quietly beautiful book and well worth reading.