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erboe501's review against another edition
4.0
This book was gripping! I took longer walks and swapped listening for Netflixing at dinner so I could complete this faster. I saw most of the twists coming a mile away ahead of Rose, but the intrigue was still high. And Wynne pushed the envelope beyond what I expected (worship classes, for example) in a couple instances. Listening to the audio was rewarding to hear the difference between the English at Hope and the Scottish townspeople, a secondary but simmering conflict through the book. The setting in the mid 90s was smart for how it eliminated mobile phones, which contributed to the school's isolation.
The ending I found more satisfying than I expected. As close to a happy ending, perhaps, as could be expected after everything the characters went through.
The ending I found more satisfying than I expected. As close to a happy ending, perhaps, as could be expected after everything the characters went through.
pinaybibliophile's review against another edition
3.5
A tale about the students and teachers in a boarding school set in the Scottish highlands is mindless entertainment. Had to look up photos of Dunnottar Castle which inspired Caldonbrae Hall and let me just say that the author is perfect at scene- and mood-setting.
irenetrexqueen's review against another edition
1.0
DNF 50%
First, when did I get bored? About 30%
When did I read a spoiler review? 40%
This book is such a slog. Especially after 40%, it has been nonstop SHE DOESN'T KNOW. For goodness sake, shut your mouth or just spill!
Knowing what is going on and where it is going, thank you for the spoiler review, I'm just going to dip at 50%.
Side note: How is this school supposed to make sense? These parents want their daughter to move up in the world, and yet... just makes no sense, and yeah, maybe if I finished, I would have gotten it, but I'm good, really.
First, when did I get bored? About 30%
When did I read a spoiler review? 40%
This book is such a slog. Especially after 40%, it has been nonstop SHE DOESN'T KNOW. For goodness sake, shut your mouth or just spill!
Knowing what is going on and where it is going, thank you for the spoiler review, I'm just going to dip at 50%.
Side note: How is this school supposed to make sense? These parents want their daughter to move up in the world, and yet... just makes no sense, and yeah, maybe if I finished, I would have gotten it, but I'm good, really.
juliette_21's review against another edition
3.0
This book had huge potential, but really disappointed me.
I love Scotland, it's my favorite part of the world and I was so so happy to read a book based in Scotland.
The whole boarding school idea sounded brilliant with a little Harry Potter Vibe to it.
It all went down hill after a hundred pages. The story started to get a bit muddled up and the secret hidden from Rose took up to much place and I was clearly not understand where the story was going.
Everything just seemed to go on and on and the story never seemed to have a sparkle and a punch to it.
When the secret finally unraveled the book just got weird and boring, I only wanted to finish the book and get it over and done with because it just didn't have much to it. The plot could have been great, I was expecting nice mystery not touches of pedophilic men teaching girls how to satisfy a man in a sexual way.
The positive points were the characters, Rose was a nice character and I could see how passionate she was about her job and stood up as best as she could in the horrible situation the girls were bought up in.
The other characters were nice enough but I think that Anthony could have been developed more even though some of his actions were abismal.
The other nice thing in this book was the detailing. I really pictured the story and the environment.
I must say some scenes in this book, as said previously, are really shocking and there's no warning before reading this book. As an avid book reader I could have picked this book up at 13 or 14 and those scenes are very explicit in my opinion.
I love Scotland, it's my favorite part of the world and I was so so happy to read a book based in Scotland.
The whole boarding school idea sounded brilliant with a little Harry Potter Vibe to it.
It all went down hill after a hundred pages. The story started to get a bit muddled up and the secret hidden from Rose took up to much place and I was clearly not understand where the story was going.
Everything just seemed to go on and on and the story never seemed to have a sparkle and a punch to it.
When the secret finally unraveled the book just got weird and boring, I only wanted to finish the book and get it over and done with because it just didn't have much to it. The plot could have been great, I was expecting nice mystery not touches of pedophilic men teaching girls how to satisfy a man in a sexual way.
The positive points were the characters, Rose was a nice character and I could see how passionate she was about her job and stood up as best as she could in the horrible situation the girls were bought up in.
The other characters were nice enough but I think that Anthony could have been developed more even though some of his actions were abismal.
The other nice thing in this book was the detailing. I really pictured the story and the environment.
I must say some scenes in this book, as said previously, are really shocking and there's no warning before reading this book. As an avid book reader I could have picked this book up at 13 or 14 and those scenes are very explicit in my opinion.
deedralapray's review against another edition
3.0
This one was good, but I really wanted more from some of the characters. How can there only be one likable character?
turtlesreads's review against another edition
3.0
This was a quick and easy read. It did drag on in a few places but I liked the ending and it seemed a fit read while traveling throughout Ireland.
cosybookcorner's review against another edition
4.0
Madam truly did ignite a fire in me, it was a beautiful and poignant story focusing on what it means to be a young woman. Despite being set in the 90s, it had this weird sense of Victoriana about it that would draw you in completely and snap you back to the 90s suddenly - both immersive and jarring, and completely excellently executed,
I adored the focus on strong Classical women, teaching stories with relevance to the modern today through women in history and literature. It completely reinvigorated my love of Classics, as well as sparking a feminist fire in my heart on behalf of the young women in the story.
The actual book and plot was beautiful and shocking and impactful, but mostly, this book had a truly profound impact on me as a young female classicist. I will carry this book with me in my heart, it reminded me to educate other young women and stand up for them. To uphold the values I believe in, and remember the lessons taught to us by classical women. Thank you to Phoebe Wynne for writing this book, it's exactly what I needed.
I adored the focus on strong Classical women, teaching stories with relevance to the modern today through women in history and literature. It completely reinvigorated my love of Classics, as well as sparking a feminist fire in my heart on behalf of the young women in the story.
The actual book and plot was beautiful and shocking and impactful, but mostly, this book had a truly profound impact on me as a young female classicist. I will carry this book with me in my heart, it reminded me to educate other young women and stand up for them. To uphold the values I believe in, and remember the lessons taught to us by classical women. Thank you to Phoebe Wynne for writing this book, it's exactly what I needed.
mindthespines's review against another edition
2.0
Madam was one of the strangest books I've read in a long time but not in a particularly exciting way. The gothic elements were gorgeous, especially the tumultuous, grey environments reflecting the increasing madness of the protagonist. I liked Rose to begin with and I really enjoyed the progress with the girls in the Latin classes but I have to admit I skimmed the second half of the book.
When she did 'find out', her first thought wasn't 'how do I stop this?' which I thought was incredible. She only had to be told to keep it a secret because of a non-disclosure contract and the threat against her mother. Which, honestly, is ridiculous in itself. Why would a school with an insurmountable amount of money need to hire a random, barely-connected-to-the-school teacher who has shown no inclination to supporting sexist values and whose mother was a hardcore feminist activist? There would be a thousand other options before hiring someone they'd need to threaten into secrecy.
The irony is that the purpose of the school was barely hidden. Every page was 'We're not supposed to talk about that!' before the girls revealed all Rose needed to know (or apparently not, since it took half a book to put the pieces together).
I don't even want to get into the whole Anthony-Clarissa ordeal. Rose's comment of 'It must be difficult for a man in a girls' school' tells you all you need to know.
Overall, I felt it had potential and the vibe was almost enticing but the plot and unbelievable characters just didn't cut it.
Spoiler
Really, the progress of the plot just became too unbelievable. I was expecting some kind of magical/bizarre element to make sense of the horror aspects in the first half of the book. Some thoughts I had: Is this a training school for vampires, spies, or assassins? It soon became blatantly clear that the girls were being taught misogynistic values for marriage and every time I assumed Rose had realised that, too, she carried on her week confused and angry -yet somehow not angry about the blindingly-obvious bigger picture.When she did 'find out', her first thought wasn't 'how do I stop this?' which I thought was incredible. She only had to be told to keep it a secret because of a non-disclosure contract and the threat against her mother. Which, honestly, is ridiculous in itself. Why would a school with an insurmountable amount of money need to hire a random, barely-connected-to-the-school teacher who has shown no inclination to supporting sexist values and whose mother was a hardcore feminist activist? There would be a thousand other options before hiring someone they'd need to threaten into secrecy.
The irony is that the purpose of the school was barely hidden. Every page was 'We're not supposed to talk about that!' before the girls revealed all Rose needed to know (or apparently not, since it took half a book to put the pieces together).
I don't even want to get into the whole Anthony-Clarissa ordeal. Rose's comment of 'It must be difficult for a man in a girls' school' tells you all you need to know.
Overall, I felt it had potential and the vibe was almost enticing but the plot and unbelievable characters just didn't cut it.
lisahowe27's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I’m really torn with what to rate this novel. I loved the audio narrator, Nathalie Buschome, which I’m sure saved the story for me through her narration (and why I’m not giving this a 2.5 or 3). The character of Rose is dauntingly frustrating most of the time. The pacing was quite slow and the big reveal was underwhelming. I remember thinking, “That’s it? Seriously?!” Revealing this earlier to build the tension against the institution perhaps would have worked better. Otherwise, the reader is just slogging through waiting for Rose to get what is really going on.
I understand with the Greek Mythology retellings (which were wonderful) what Wynne was trying to do; however, the execution of her intent in interweaving these with her story somehow missed the mark. I did feel the tension she was trying to create throughout but it just dragged on too long. This is almost there and would have benefited from better pacing. I liked her writing, however.
The ending seems to hint at a sequel or suggests that nothing really has changed (and has it really changed even after the new millennium?). Perhaps that’s was her point? Either way, her attempt at dark academia meets Mona Lisa Smile meets Classics mythology was a jarring intermingling that the reader had to fumble through throughout the novel.
I understand with the Greek Mythology retellings (which were wonderful) what Wynne was trying to do; however, the execution of her intent in interweaving these with her story somehow missed the mark. I did feel the tension she was trying to create throughout but it just dragged on too long. This is almost there and would have benefited from better pacing. I liked her writing, however.
The ending seems to hint at a sequel or suggests that nothing really has changed (and has it really changed even after the new millennium?). Perhaps that’s was her point? Either way, her attempt at dark academia meets Mona Lisa Smile meets Classics mythology was a jarring intermingling that the reader had to fumble through throughout the novel.