Reviews

The Moon, the Stars, and Madame Burova by Ruth Hogan

amandax777's review against another edition

4.0

The best yet from Ruth Hogan. An irresistably delicious romp through 1970s holiday camp, you can see the chalets and smell the beer, it's better than black forest gateau and cheese and pineapple hedgehog. A novel of love, hope and family. Loved loved loved it ❤

jenniekay24's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

riinacharlottaq's review against another edition

adventurous funny relaxing slow-paced

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

2.5

Todella tylsä ja hitaasti etenevä. Ihme että loppuun sai luettua... Jotain mielenkiintoisia juttuja, mutta kirjoitus tyyli hieman ontuvaa mun makuun. 

lovelife1008's review

emotional hopeful mysterious 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

jelomath's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious sad slow-paced

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

2.5

shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition

This was a fun summer read. Madame Burova is retiring from many decades of running her palm and tarot card reading booth on the Brighton boardwalk. Over the years, Madame Burova has been privy to many secrets and confessions. In the 1970s, when she first took over the clairvoyant business from her mother, Madame Burova got to know several of the young entertainers - singers, daredevils, contortionists etc. The novel travels back and forth between that 1970s summer and the present day where some surprising connections are made.

katrenia's review against another edition

4.0

A fun, feel good book. I love a story about families made from friendships rather than blood, and this has a mix of both. There are so many great characters, and it would be tough to choose a favorite. Maybe Shunty-Mae, because she has a great name and is such a curmudgeon.

vani_cloudy's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

bffreader's review

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

2.0

deedralapray's review against another edition

5.0

I'm on a bit of a magical realism kick. I recently read The Midnight Library and thought after I finished it, "Well, this isn't really my genre, but I loved it." Perhaps it is my genre, or sub-genre rather.

For anyone who reads my reviews, I mostly write about how a book made me feel. People often ask me for recommendations, and Goodreads is where I turn to jog my memory. First of all, just the mention of Madame Burova would conjure the images from my mind's eye. But oddly, in this past week, I had thought to myself, I haven't cried while reading a book in quite some time. Maybe it's just menopause and hormones? I shed my first book-tear in a long time at the end of this one. I did suspect the twist early on, but I thought it was almost too good to be true. (I hope that's not a spoiler for anyone.) Would definitely recommend.

And big thanks to libro.fm!