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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy
Minor: Drug use, Blood
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this book is intimidating. i honestly feel proud of myself for getting through this tome of a novel, but I did really enjoy it. heavy description, as one might imagine to fill 800+ pages, but a clever, twisted mystery nonetheless
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Took me a million years to get through the first part (which is almost 400 pages) but after that the story does get going. It's super atmospheric and the structure is fascinating, the story unfolding in a very slow and subtle way. As far as historical fiction goes, this is definitely how I like it to be done: as an accurate depiction of the era it's set in, while also being critical of the tendencies of that era.
I think this book is also good for a reread because there's a lot of things you don't pick up on the first time around. Just don't read it when you have a lot of other stuff to do, because it takes a loooooot of time.
I think this book is also good for a reread because there's a lot of things you don't pick up on the first time around. Just don't read it when you have a lot of other stuff to do, because it takes a loooooot of time.
If Pale Fire and Middlemarch had a baby, I think it would be something close to The Luminaries. Like a lot of the other reviewers, I approached this with more of a 'summer read' mentality which have left me ignorant of some of the more intricate structures (on the other hand, I'm never going to care about astrological charts).
I enjoyed the slow unveiling of the mystery, and the repetitive nature of the chapters was actually helpful in terms of keeping track of all the characters and their intertwining plots.
I enjoyed the slow unveiling of the mystery, and the repetitive nature of the chapters was actually helpful in terms of keeping track of all the characters and their intertwining plots.
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The needless use of Victorian jargon and style distracts and forces the reader out of the book. I gave after 100 pages with no curiosity about what happens in the next 700.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this is a thick book that starts slowly and gradually unveils the mystery in a way that was very satisfying to read - as a reader, i did feel rewarded for things i remembered from earlier in the story. the writing style is whimsical but fit the period in which it was set; i don’t think it’ll be for everyone, but i enjoyed it!
there is a Lot of period-typical racism and misogyny which was in many ways necessary to the plot, but the more long-winded writing style did really emphasise it.
there is a Lot of period-typical racism and misogyny which was in many ways necessary to the plot, but the more long-winded writing style did really emphasise it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism
I think that any book over 600 pages should be not just engaging, but important. It’s a big time commitment to complete; and, with so many other books in publication, you sacrifice reading multiple other potentially worthwhile books by committing to one long one. With this in mind, I began “The Luminaries” with trepidation. At 832 pages, it’s a weighty tome and, moreover, written a young author I’d never read before.
“The Luminaries” is certainly a good book. The plot is clever, mysterious, entertaining and novel. Set in the kiwi gold boomtown, Hokitika, “The Luminaries” is not only unique for taking place in New Zealand, but for taking place in 1860s New Zealand. This is perhaps not too creative for a New Zealander author like Eleanor Catton, but for me, it was different and fun.
And, the style is much the same. “The Luminaries” feels at once like a Victorian novel (familial scandal, blackmail, fallen women) and magical realist escapade (séances, impossible plot twists). It’s a weird mix that can be frustrating—Catton seems to purposefully leave things unclear (e.g., what happened to Emery Staines during the two months he was gone? Opium binge? Or survives being in the hold of the Godspeed?). But, it works enough of the time to keep the reader interested.
The most popular criticism of “The Luminaries” (e.g., read Janet Maslin’s review in the NYT) is that it’s so much writing for so little plot. This is, in part, a result of the book’s unique style. “The Luminaries” has an ‘astrological’ structure—it has 13 parts (corresponding to the 13 astrological signs); each successive part is half the length of the one that precedes it; its 13 main characters each correspond to the attributes of an astrological sign; etc. I’m not sure why Catton has structured the book like this—it’s a creative approach, but doesn’t seem necessary for the plot. Still, in doing this, Catton is able to quicken things significantly in the last several parts. It’s like a whirlwind of activity—very effective, albeit repetitive (in his review, Bill Roorbach calls the book a “love story … that takes all of 826 pages to truly arrive,” which is pretty accurate). I’m sure there’s a lot I missed (if it weren’t an 832-page book, I might reread parts of it), but it’s still a worthwhile time.
“The Luminaries” is certainly a good book. The plot is clever, mysterious, entertaining and novel. Set in the kiwi gold boomtown, Hokitika, “The Luminaries” is not only unique for taking place in New Zealand, but for taking place in 1860s New Zealand. This is perhaps not too creative for a New Zealander author like Eleanor Catton, but for me, it was different and fun.
And, the style is much the same. “The Luminaries” feels at once like a Victorian novel (familial scandal, blackmail, fallen women) and magical realist escapade (séances, impossible plot twists). It’s a weird mix that can be frustrating—Catton seems to purposefully leave things unclear (e.g., what happened to Emery Staines during the two months he was gone? Opium binge? Or survives being in the hold of the Godspeed?). But, it works enough of the time to keep the reader interested.
The most popular criticism of “The Luminaries” (e.g., read Janet Maslin’s review in the NYT) is that it’s so much writing for so little plot. This is, in part, a result of the book’s unique style. “The Luminaries” has an ‘astrological’ structure—it has 13 parts (corresponding to the 13 astrological signs); each successive part is half the length of the one that precedes it; its 13 main characters each correspond to the attributes of an astrological sign; etc. I’m not sure why Catton has structured the book like this—it’s a creative approach, but doesn’t seem necessary for the plot. Still, in doing this, Catton is able to quicken things significantly in the last several parts. It’s like a whirlwind of activity—very effective, albeit repetitive (in his review, Bill Roorbach calls the book a “love story … that takes all of 826 pages to truly arrive,” which is pretty accurate). I’m sure there’s a lot I missed (if it weren’t an 832-page book, I might reread parts of it), but it’s still a worthwhile time.
challenging
mysterious
slow-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
I think this is the longest book I’ve ever read. I enjoyed the many intertwined stories of the characters. Definitely needed to stay engaged to not lose track of who knew what though.