Reviews

A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore

Only show reviews with written explanations

your_true_shelf's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark 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? Yes

2.0

jess_mango's review

Go to review page

4.0

An odd, often bleak novel about a brother and sister who grew up in a lonely house with their grandfather and some servants. Their mother left when they were young and their father died in a sanatorium. Catherine and her brother Rob grow close and often wander the grounds together. She feels an affinity for the coldness of winter and is drowning in the world of decay and loneliness that surrounds her in her insular life. Yet, she seems to have no drive or desire to do much else with her life.

The novel is told from Catherine’s first person perspective and she is an unreliable narrator. There is some jumping around in the timeline, she leaves out details. All of this adds to the general vibe of confusion, loneliness and despair.

A Spell of Winter was the first ever winner of the Orange Prize for Women’s Fiction.

thequeenofsheba3's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark sad slow-paced

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

3.75

thebobsphere's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

A Spell of Winter is the first winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, back then it was called The Orange Prize. Coincidentally it was the last book I had to read in order to complete my ongoing project (of many) to read all of The Women’s Prize winners.

The book takes place during pre first World War Britain and focuses on two children; Cathleen and her brother Rob. When both children were young, their mother ran away, Something their father was not able to accept and it eventually leads to madness.

With both parents gone, Catherine and Rob go and live with their grandfather in a mansion and befriend the helpers there. Eventually Catherine and Rob develop feelings for each other and the relationship becomes close. This leads to consequences and repercussions Catherine has to go through.

On one hand I liked the way the novel is insightful: Catherine’s state of mind when she finds out that the world is changing, the minute descriptions of all the characters and the little twists and turns in the narrative. yet, I found this book to be dull. I know the characters go through a lot but I felt nothing for them. Although I do like good writing, it does cross that fine line into being overwrought – sometimes the melodrama is amped up and other times it goes into overload.

I do know that this is a novel that is loved but unfortunately it did nothing for me.

vlbayliss's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

3.0

hectaizani's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

This book has one of the best first lines and paragraphs ever. They were bringing my uncle Joseph down the stairs. Narrow, twisty stairs they put in houses where they’d given no thought to the living or the dead. You couldn’t get a coffin up them.

The first winner of the Orange Prize (now the Women's Prize for Fiction) in 1996. Set in England in the era of World War I. The sibling protagonists live on a rural estate with their grandfather. Their mother abandoned them and left for a warmer clime. Their father's health declined and he left them as well. The brother and sister are left to pretty much raise themselves. I don't want to give away too much more about the story, it's something you should read for yourself. A beautifully written if sad story.