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ageekybibliophile's review against another edition
1.0
Didn't enjoy this book at all. Was a chore to sit through and read and honestly couldn't wait to get it finished.
meadowlarksong5626's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
corvus_reader's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
Loved this book, thought the ending was dissatisfying/not thorough enough closure. I have questions!
blogginboutbooks's review
3.0
I like the Kate Morton-ish premise of this novel, so I was excited to read it. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a disappointing read for me. While the story is atmospheric and Gothic-y (elements I love, especially in this kind of book), it's also almost unrelentingly sad and depressing. The characters are interesting, the plot is engrossing enough (although predictable), and the setting is richly drawn, but in the end, THE ORPHAN OF SALT WINDS just left me with a "What was the point of that?" feeling. I really wanted to like this one, but in the end, it was just an okay read for me. I'd give it a C+.
annagoldberg's review
1.0
Spoiler alert: the dog dies. In a very gruesome way. To top it off, this book is supposed to be brooding and gothic, but it’s just tepid. You’re better off reading Daphne DuMaurier if you want some actual suspense and character development.
eminewbow's review
4.0
I was surprised by how much I liked this book. I've read a lot of books for book clubs that combine the past and present and I usually don't like the present narrative. The difference with this book is that with this book it was the same character looking back rather than someone else. It has an intriguing story that explores relationships and how the past shapes our present decisions.
tammys_take's review
2.0
Atmospheric: dark, bleak, depressing… the ever present wind and rain set in the marshlands of England in 1939 and 2015. The story begins with the main character, Virginia, attempting her suicide but she’s stopped by the unexpected presence of a teenage girl crying on her garden wall.
In the 1939 timeline, we see all the events that lead up to the current situation. Virginia is adopted by Clem & Lorna Wrathmell at the age of eleven. She immediately bonds with Clem but takes a long time to warm up to Lorna. Meanwhile arrogant and creepy Mr. Deerling, their closest neighbor, seems to impose himself upon Lorna & Virginia in uncomfortable ways. Then, tragedy strikes as an enemy war plane crashes down into the marsh, and Clem attempts a rescue.
Unfortunately, I didn’t care for any of the characters in this story; they all came across as flat and undeveloped. I didn’t like Virginia, her motivations and choices in this story, nor did I sympathize with her situation. I felt separated from the experiences of the characters and had no emotional buy in. The story was a slog, pacing was entirely too slow for me, with no sense of direction.
In the 1939 timeline, we see all the events that lead up to the current situation. Virginia is adopted by Clem & Lorna Wrathmell at the age of eleven. She immediately bonds with Clem but takes a long time to warm up to Lorna. Meanwhile arrogant and creepy Mr. Deerling, their closest neighbor, seems to impose himself upon Lorna & Virginia in uncomfortable ways. Then, tragedy strikes as an enemy war plane crashes down into the marsh, and Clem attempts a rescue.
Unfortunately, I didn’t care for any of the characters in this story; they all came across as flat and undeveloped. I didn’t like Virginia, her motivations and choices in this story, nor did I sympathize with her situation. I felt separated from the experiences of the characters and had no emotional buy in. The story was a slog, pacing was entirely too slow for me, with no sense of direction.
moomin333's review
3.0
Loved the atmospheric, moody tone of this book – the dual narration between old and young Virginia was stellar and kept the pace moving. It was a very quick read, good for a winter day. I found the villain to be incredibly convincing and creepy, and found myself wondering what I would have done in her situation. It’s easy to call Virginia’s actions stupid, but she was a child, and I think we can all remember the way events can transpire as a pre-teen.
I’d recommend this one to someone who enjoys a quick gothic novel. It’s difficult to connect to the characters, and the climax is predictable, but it was good eerie writing - if not underwhelming.
I’d recommend this one to someone who enjoys a quick gothic novel. It’s difficult to connect to the characters, and the climax is predictable, but it was good eerie writing - if not underwhelming.
bibliopage's review
3.0
This novel was a very gripping read--I finished it in less than a day! While it did have that Christie/Bronte-esque gothic flair, I would have liked to see more in the way of character development and less plot holes exposed to the elements of faulty narrative with a lack of cohesion. The novel certainly set the gloomy mood pervasive throughout, but so much more could have been done to tie it all together.