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sbez05's review against another edition
5.0
This book is the reason I'm still awake when I should have gone to bed hours ago. "One more chapter!" I absolutely could not put this down. I was positively fascinated with Vida Winters and her story. I was slightly less impressed with the actual narrator of the story (if you can call her that) but all of the characters were well developed. I saw this described as a gothic mystery (thanks Becky!) and that's a fantastic description. This is an incredibly dark, compelling story that grabs you and won't let you go until the last page. Well ... actually, I could have done without the very last chapter (the post script) only because it felt a bit contrived and not entirely fitting with the rest of the story.
There were a few other things that nagged at me in this book but in the interest of not spoiling it for anyone, I won't post them here. The few things that bothered me almost made me mark this one a four-star read, but then I figured that any book that keeps you reading for hours after you promised yourself you'd go to bed can't be anything less than a five-star.
There were a few other things that nagged at me in this book but in the interest of not spoiling it for anyone, I won't post them here. The few things that bothered me almost made me mark this one a four-star read, but then I figured that any book that keeps you reading for hours after you promised yourself you'd go to bed can't be anything less than a five-star.
thshelton's review against another edition
4.0
This book was fascinating. The characters were eccentric and many were totally twisted and dark. But I was captivated throughout, never knowing what to expect but satisfied with the unexpected ending. I will be thinking about this one for a long time.
smirk's review against another edition
4.0
I just finished listening to this on CD. I'm glad that I decided to listen, rather than read it. The author writes very descriptively, setting a nice scene, I must admit...but when faced with reading such a book, I sometimes bogged down and 1) quit reading or 2) can't enjoy the story because it's buried. That said, the CD was beautiful. There were two narrators (Lynn Redgrave was one) and they read it beautifully.
I really enjoyed the story as well. It's basically a mystery that unfolds slowly. While parts of it are predictable, more often than not I found myself being surprised by the turn of events.
I really enjoyed the story as well. It's basically a mystery that unfolds slowly. While parts of it are predictable, more often than not I found myself being surprised by the turn of events.
lilyyjane's review against another edition
3.0
oh to be as chilled out as emmeline
the main character in this was SO boring and both the beginning and the end a touch disappointing, but i found the rest of this book quite enjoyable. i liked the goltic mystery elements (and appreciated that it never actually became a paranormal/ghost story ) and i thought the way the plot twists were foreshadowed by using language was quite fun. i liked miss winter as a character as well, and i wish more of it had just been narrated by her.
also i could not care less about margarets twin trauma i lowkey ignored that part. and also what do you mean she ends up with the doctor and not aurelius???
the main character in this was SO boring and both the beginning and the end a touch disappointing, but i found the rest of this book quite enjoyable. i liked the goltic mystery elements (
katinaroberts's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not really sure what to say about this book. I did really like it. I loved the twisting story and not being able to guess how it was going to turn out (usually I will skip to the end...but even reading the end didn't totally help...I had to read the WHOLE book, which is a good sign for me).
I don't know if I would recommend it to everyone though. If you like happy books, this is not the book for you. It is classified as a "gothic novel" (which to me basically means dark themes and non-traditional plot lines) and kind of reminds me of "Rebecca" by Du Maurier. If you do like twisty plot lines and don't mind a few dark plots, then this is the book for you.
If you read it, let me know what you think.
I don't know if I would recommend it to everyone though. If you like happy books, this is not the book for you. It is classified as a "gothic novel" (which to me basically means dark themes and non-traditional plot lines) and kind of reminds me of "Rebecca" by Du Maurier. If you do like twisty plot lines and don't mind a few dark plots, then this is the book for you.
If you read it, let me know what you think.
books4life76's review against another edition
2.0
Bored me to tears! I had to force myself to finish it!!!
kate_standiford's review against another edition
5.0
It had me from the start. This book is chock full of mystery and suspense to keep you interested. It doesn't fall flat of expectations, the only complaint I have is that the author tied up too many loose ends in the final chapters--- i like to leave more to the imagination than that. With other books the stories linger in my mind, but this one feels over and packaged and distant from me already.
A good story, a fun read, but it is not an eternal friend like some books can be.
A good story, a fun read, but it is not an eternal friend like some books can be.
msmisrule's review against another edition
5.0
Echoes of 19th century gothic literature colour this stately novel of biography and secrets. I loved it—it's a ripping good yarn in that peculiarly English genre of the literary mystery.
laurented13's review against another edition
4.0
Re - read. I liked the writing style, but sometimes it was difficult to determine what was a metaphor/surreal & what was actually happening. The ending could have been detailed a little better in my opinion but overall a great book about family