Reviews

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

shizzley's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-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

5.0

aidanlewis77's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny tense fast-paced

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

4.5

xeniba's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

I got this as a Skip the Line book from the library and didn’t realize it was the same author as The Luminaries (which I didn’t care for). I probably wouldn’t have read it if I’d known.

The pacing was inconsistent…At times it dragged and then the end was super rushed and ambiguous.

The characters weren’t likeable, though I think that was likely the intent. I could see where the social commentary was going, but I’m so tired of white people whining and blowing smoke up their own asses. 

I just need to remember that this author is not for me.

emendoza8262's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

maguireriley's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

3.5

lucyfrances's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No

3.75

eabhajones's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.75

what a plot, what writing, the slightest of smudges too long 

zoebaillie's review against another edition

tense slow-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? Yes

3.5

I've spent my whole teen and adult life involved in various activist/political circles, I saw myself and all my awful flaws projected large in this book, but maybe not the genuine altruistic intentions I know are there all the way through these groups. That said, I really enjoyed the character development and all the different motives of the characters in this story.

I found the pacing pretty hit and miss here, incredibly slow for much of the book with a frustratingly rushed conclusion. I think this was to try and build suspense and tension but it just felt a bit anti climactic, after sticking with the characters for so long it almost felt like Catton just ran out of time towards the end? I've seen similar reviews on here, it's a shame the ending wasn't fleshed out more.

meghanloisann's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

4.25

kimcheel's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-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? Yes

2.0