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fkshg8465's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
1.75
I loved Birnam Wood so much, and so I was really excited to read this one. It was a big let down. I feel like I watched an episode of this on Euphoria…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, and Gaslighting
a_novel_craving's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child death, and Adult/minor relationship
bookmaddie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
THE REHEARSAL is a complex, inquisitive, and nuanced exploration of girlhood and the performance of personhood. A high schooler is discovered having an affair with her jazz band teacher, and the effects are felt deeply within the tight-knit community. Through the eyes of schoolgirls and townspeople, Catton explores the aftermath of scandal and how it upends relationships of all kinds—lovers, mothers and daughters, teachers and students.
And while doing this, she also manages to create a narrative that holds many performances within it—a play, a storyteller, two girls trying to figure out how they want to be. It makes you wonder what parts of the novel actually happened and what was an imagination, reinforcing the nature of the scandal, as no one knows what actually happened. Clever! I don't think this narrative style will be for everyone, but I found it endlessly fascinating and clever.
Catton's writing of the schoolgirls is outstanding—they felt perfectly their age, with the teenage distractions, confidence, playacting, and moments of wisdom. The interiority she is known for shines through here in a more cutting, crisp way than her later novels.
I really enjoyed this novel, and it is definitely one that will stick around in my head for awhile. I'm sad that I don't have any more of Catton's writing to enjoy, but maybe it's just time for a reread of THE LUMINARIES.
And while doing this, she also manages to create a narrative that holds many performances within it—a play, a storyteller, two girls trying to figure out how they want to be. It makes you wonder what parts of the novel actually happened and what was an imagination, reinforcing the nature of the scandal, as no one knows what actually happened. Clever! I don't think this narrative style will be for everyone, but I found it endlessly fascinating and clever.
Catton's writing of the schoolgirls is outstanding—they felt perfectly their age, with the teenage distractions, confidence, playacting, and moments of wisdom. The interiority she is known for shines through here in a more cutting, crisp way than her later novels.
I really enjoyed this novel, and it is definitely one that will stick around in my head for awhile. I'm sad that I don't have any more of Catton's writing to enjoy, but maybe it's just time for a reread of THE LUMINARIES.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault
bealmg's review against another edition
Not enjoying the writing style nor the story itself.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Adult/minor relationship
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