Reviews

Belgravia by Julian Fellowes

jmross10's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A solid story! You can certainly see parallels between Downton Abbey and Julian Fellowes’ love for Doctor Thorne (Anthony Trollope).

It’s a good multigenerational story that plays out at a moderate pace. The threads all weave together well and it doesn’t feel like waiting around for something to happen. I also enjoyed trying to figure out what turn the plot would take next. 

A solid, low stakes (from the reader’s POV) book, that’s about people trying to live their lives and all the unexpected things that come with it. 

serrasa's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

ricefun's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing 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

3.75

This book was exactly what I expected from Fellows, which means that it was very entertaining and immersed me in a world I love to see. And, at the same time, it wasn't very complicated or challenging. Class and race are rarely subverted. It's more of an escape that is like candy than a journey that feels like a fulfilling meal. 

reinedumonde's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted slow-paced

3.0

impla77's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

sallyavena's review against another edition

4.0

Let's just say I felt like I was sluggishly making my way through this book but enjoyably so. Fellows is a VERY details oriented writer but he does a really good job of creating an image in your head.

carrymey's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars. Well this was quite delightful. I should have expected nothing less from the author of Downton Abbey.

thatswhatiloveaboutreading's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

As soon as I heard about this book written by the writer of Downton Abbey, I put it on hold at the library. I was so excited to read it, and it did not disappoint. With the same upstairs/downstairs dynamics and drama that I loved in Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes writes about 19th century Belgravia. There are characters with wealth and money and power and privilege as well as characters who want wealth and money and power and privilege and who will lie, cheat, steal, and blackmail to get it. The story builds somewhat slowly with multiple overlapping connections between characters, but I enjoyed how it all came together and was very happy with the ending. It was such an entertaining read and felt very cinematic! 

xuaeyaqonavosoi's review against another edition

2.0

Napisze najpierw co mysle a potem jak dokoncze czytać to ocenie:
Jest to typowy hamburgerek, troche ponizej mojej godnosci czytelniczej, ale nie jakos wybitnie szkodliwy. Ponizej lista wkurwiajacych rzeczy:
- charles jest wybitnie podobny do swojego biologicznego starego, ktorego na pewno wszyscy dobrze pamietaja, ale jakims cudem NIKT nie jest wstanie tego powiazac xd i wymyslaja jakis romans z dupy
- jakim cudem sofia i edmund wzieli ten sfingowany slub? tak bardzo sie podktesla ze jkby orawda wyszla na jaw to by sofia na dziwke wyszla a jej stary i tak sie na wszystko zgodzil lol
- nawet czarne charaktery sa po prostu plaskie, sa źli bo tak, bo pieniazkow by sie chcialo, ale ilez mozna zrobic postaci ktorych motywacja opiera sie tylko na hajsie? Niby oliver ma dodatkowo poczucie krzywdy ojciec go nie kochal tak jak siostry a teraz faworyzuje jakiegos znajdka, ale i tak nie przekonuje mnie to
- romans johna i susan jest bardzo plomuenny az biedaczek sie uzaleznil, ale wlasciwie wszystko co o nich wiemy to ze sie taz na jakis czas spotykaja na szybki seks i prawie ze soba nie rozmawiaja, jedynie o intrygach
- maria tj naiwne dziecko mielace ozorem co slina na jezyk przyniesie i orzez to uznawane za niesamowicie urocze, a wtecz za intelektualistke, bo wie o jkivhs glownych atrakcjach indii i na koniec monologu Charlesa o jego pracy milosiernie uznaje, ze dobrze sobie poradzil nie nudzac jej
- charles przedstawiony oczywiscie cały na bialo, nawet jak pojawiaja sie jakies zarzuty oszustwa to kyos usiluje go wrobic, bo go nie lubi, gdyz sam jest zlodupcem
- od poczatku mozna bylo przewidzieć, ze babki beda chcialy wyswatac charlesowi marie, zdziwilo mnie to nie mal tak mocno jak holocaust hitlera
Autentycznie mam problem z przyznaniem oceny tej książce, bo teoretycznie 2/5 jest sprawiedliwe, ale no szanujmy sie. Musze sie zastanowic xd

annakath's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0