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maya_b's review against another edition
mysterious
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
2.0
Das Buch wird auf Goodreads als "Romance" aufgeführt, und angesichts des "findet die große Liebe" im Klappentext bin ich genau davon auch ausgegangen, aber leider hat das Buch sich für mich wirklich nicht so angefühlt. Ich habe jemanden gesehen, der es als "beinhaltet Horror-Elemente" beschrieben hat, und ich glaube, so habe ich es auch eher wahrgenommen. In meinen Augen war es eher ein Thriller, als einer Liebesgeschichte, und leider wich es damit etwas zu sehr von meinen Erwartungen ab, als dass ich mich wirklich darauf hätte einlassen können.
Hätte ich gewusst, dass es in die Richtung geht, dann hätte ich es eventuell eher gemocht (oder aktuell nicht gelesen), aber so fiel es mir teils sehr schwer, Spaß beim Lesen zu haben.
Ich mag den Beginn des Buches eigentlich gerne, die Idee gefällt mir auch, und es hat durchaus spannende Momente, leider sind die weiblichen Figuren aber sehr eindimensional, und fast alle Figuren in meinen Augen wirklich unangenehme Zeitgenossen. Ich hatte die meiste Zeit über ein wirklich schlechtes Gefühl bei vielen Figuren, und während es bei einigen zweifellos gewollt ist, bin ich mir auch sicher, dass es bei anderen eigentlich nicht so beabsichtigt war,denn selbst Idas angebliche große Liebe war teilweise einfach nur creepy und unangenehm(Leute im Schlaf ausziehen oder fotografieren geht gar nicht, ganz besonders nicht, wenn man sie gerade mal einen Tag kennt, und mir ist egal, ob es sich nur um Socken gehandelt hat, das hatte trotzdem einen sehr widerlichen Beigeschmack für mich) .
Leider hat dieser unangenehme Unterton sich durch die ganze Geschichte gezogen, und die angebliche Liebesgeschichte war in meinen Augen sehr gefühllos, wodurch es auch kein wirkliches Gegenstück zu dem Unterton gab. Am besten beleuchtet waren wohl einige männliche Figuren mit ihrer ganzen Vergangenheit, leider waren diese auch großteils düster, und sowohl die Geschichten als auch die zugehörigen Figuren waren auch hier wieder eher unangenehm, und insgesamt hatte ich oft einfach wirklich das Gefühl, eher einen Thriller zu lesen. Nicht zwingend einen gruseligen oder so, also es war schon erträglich, aber das Buch wirkt vom Cover her so hell und verspricht eine Liebesgeschichte, sodass der Thriller eher sehr fehl am Platz war.
Wäre ich mit der richtigen Erwartung an die Geschichte gegangen, dann bin ich sicher, sie hätte mir gefallen können, weil die Thriller-Elemente durchaus ganz gut geschrieben sind, entsprechend gibt es die zwei Sterne von mir, mit den falschen Erwartungen funktioniert die Geschichte leider eher weniger für mich.
Hätte ich gewusst, dass es in die Richtung geht, dann hätte ich es eventuell eher gemocht (oder aktuell nicht gelesen), aber so fiel es mir teils sehr schwer, Spaß beim Lesen zu haben.
Ich mag den Beginn des Buches eigentlich gerne, die Idee gefällt mir auch, und es hat durchaus spannende Momente, leider sind die weiblichen Figuren aber sehr eindimensional, und fast alle Figuren in meinen Augen wirklich unangenehme Zeitgenossen. Ich hatte die meiste Zeit über ein wirklich schlechtes Gefühl bei vielen Figuren, und während es bei einigen zweifellos gewollt ist, bin ich mir auch sicher, dass es bei anderen eigentlich nicht so beabsichtigt war,denn selbst Idas angebliche große Liebe war teilweise einfach nur creepy und unangenehm
Leider hat dieser unangenehme Unterton sich durch die ganze Geschichte gezogen, und die angebliche Liebesgeschichte war in meinen Augen sehr gefühllos, wodurch es auch kein wirkliches Gegenstück zu dem Unterton gab. Am besten beleuchtet waren wohl einige männliche Figuren mit ihrer ganzen Vergangenheit, leider waren diese auch großteils düster, und sowohl die Geschichten als auch die zugehörigen Figuren waren auch hier wieder eher unangenehm, und insgesamt hatte ich oft einfach wirklich das Gefühl, eher einen Thriller zu lesen. Nicht zwingend einen gruseligen oder so, also es war schon erträglich, aber das Buch wirkt vom Cover her so hell und verspricht eine Liebesgeschichte, sodass der Thriller eher sehr fehl am Platz war.
Wäre ich mit der richtigen Erwartung an die Geschichte gegangen, dann bin ich sicher, sie hätte mir gefallen können, weil die Thriller-Elemente durchaus ganz gut geschrieben sind, entsprechend gibt es die zwei Sterne von mir, mit den falschen Erwartungen funktioniert die Geschichte leider eher weniger für mich.
abaugher's review against another edition
3.0
start: due back to the library in 2 days! can i read it in that time?
end: didn't finish it in 2 days; more like three and a half. Strange is a good word to describe it. it was like a strange chapter in the middle of a story. but, i think i got some sense of an anology for turning into glass: an illness that inexorably leads one to their death, no matter that they dont understand it, no matter what they or their loved ones may do to stop it.
this felt kind of like there were a bit too many things going on at once that seemed to not have anything tying them together.btu then, that's kind of like life, isn't it?
White is an all-pervasive theme, for good or bad. and the day i finished reading it, i accidentally(?) wore all white. this is not usual for me, at all. as i said. strange.
end: didn't finish it in 2 days; more like three and a half. Strange is a good word to describe it. it was like a strange chapter in the middle of a story. but, i think i got some sense of an anology for turning into glass: an illness that inexorably leads one to their death, no matter that they dont understand it, no matter what they or their loved ones may do to stop it.
this felt kind of like there were a bit too many things going on at once that seemed to not have anything tying them together.btu then, that's kind of like life, isn't it?
White is an all-pervasive theme, for good or bad. and the day i finished reading it, i accidentally(?) wore all white. this is not usual for me, at all. as i said. strange.
jomasini's review against another edition
5.0
This was a sweet, sad novel that I just could not put down
kookeybird's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
2.5
Not really sure why I continued to read this one since the main character irritated me so much, along with the manic pixie female lead. The fantasy elements were captivating, and I kept expecting some major twist but…
evaboura's review against another edition
1.0
I had a very hard time getting into this book. I read up until page 41 and then gave it to a friend that was interested. I would give it a second try though..
sillycreature's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
missbookiverse's review against another edition
4.0
Let’s start off with the writing style: it’s far from simple and I really had to concentrate to understand everything, yet it was beautiful. The story takes place in a seemingly normal world that has some magical elements to it. The descriptions made the whole story sound like a fairytale to me. My favourite quote was this one:
This line describes Midas, the boy the story deals with. Midas is a photographer and loves to watch the world through his camera only. He’s so socially awkward, it both made him sweet and annoying. Some times I had to smile at his shyness, other times I wanted to slap him and tell him to just get over it already. Luckily Ida manages to handle him quite well and helps him overcome his obstacles.
As mentioned above Ali Shaw’s writing is superb. He made the setting and characters feel so real, I felt like I was right in the scene with them, smelling the same air and seeing the same landscape. I especially loved the description of the jellyfish and the role they played in the story.
Unfortunately the writing style was also tiring at times. Every chapter starts of from far away. You get a description of the scenery or some background information, like a camera slowly zooming in, and it takes a while until the author gets to the core (= the characters and what the chapter is about). Sometimes this just felt unnecessary and I simply wanted the story to move on.
The storytelling was well done. At first it felt a bit overwhelming with all the different characters being introduced but the further the story moved the more complex it got. Everything the author established ended up being somehow connected. Nothing was mentioned without a reason, I liked that a lot.
The only thing that did confuse me were the names of the cities and villages. I wish there had been a map in the book, that would’ve been really helpful. Then again I don’t think I missed anything of the story by not being able to tell apart the locations.
Short and simple: The Girl With Glass Feet is a complex novel with lots of sad parts and some happy moments. It offers quirky, tragic characters and the beautiful writing makes it sound like a modern fairytale.
My paperback copy by Atlantic Books is gorgeous! The cover itself is pretty enough but the book edges are actually silver, adding the perfect final touch.
“Besides, he didn’t have enough intact heartstrings to hand them to people to pull.”
(p. 14)
This line describes Midas, the boy the story deals with. Midas is a photographer and loves to watch the world through his camera only. He’s so socially awkward, it both made him sweet and annoying. Some times I had to smile at his shyness, other times I wanted to slap him and tell him to just get over it already. Luckily Ida manages to handle him quite well and helps him overcome his obstacles.
As mentioned above Ali Shaw’s writing is superb. He made the setting and characters feel so real, I felt like I was right in the scene with them, smelling the same air and seeing the same landscape. I especially loved the description of the jellyfish and the role they played in the story.
Unfortunately the writing style was also tiring at times. Every chapter starts of from far away. You get a description of the scenery or some background information, like a camera slowly zooming in, and it takes a while until the author gets to the core (= the characters and what the chapter is about). Sometimes this just felt unnecessary and I simply wanted the story to move on.
The storytelling was well done. At first it felt a bit overwhelming with all the different characters being introduced but the further the story moved the more complex it got. Everything the author established ended up being somehow connected. Nothing was mentioned without a reason, I liked that a lot.
The only thing that did confuse me were the names of the cities and villages. I wish there had been a map in the book, that would’ve been really helpful. Then again I don’t think I missed anything of the story by not being able to tell apart the locations.
Short and simple: The Girl With Glass Feet is a complex novel with lots of sad parts and some happy moments. It offers quirky, tragic characters and the beautiful writing makes it sound like a modern fairytale.
My paperback copy by Atlantic Books is gorgeous! The cover itself is pretty enough but the book edges are actually silver, adding the perfect final touch.
hallbrooke's review against another edition
2.0
I think the two stars I gave this book was generous. The concept intrigued me and as it was only 99p on kindle I decided to buy it however it wasn't what I'd hoped.
I found no depth in Shaw's writing and he was often too over-descriptive for my liking meaning I really couldn't get into the story. I found myself skipping large portions (I think I even skipped a whole chapter) because it just looked like dribble.
The story was still cute but I didn't feel emotionally attached at all - at the climatic scene I really wanted to feel something other than not being able to wait until the book finished.
I found no depth in Shaw's writing and he was often too over-descriptive for my liking meaning I really couldn't get into the story. I found myself skipping large portions (I think I even skipped a whole chapter) because it just looked like dribble.
The story was still cute but I didn't feel emotionally attached at all - at the climatic scene I really wanted to feel something other than not being able to wait until the book finished.
witchqueen76's review against another edition
2.0
I have got 67% through the book and given up. I feel like there is a really great story hidden underneath all the description. I love imagery but there is just too much of it in this book. It reads like a new Graduate trying to sound clever...yes the language is beautiful, but most of the time the words in the book are unnecessary. In fact even the imaginitive bits of the book are just there, for show, with little or no point to them. The characters lacked depth for me, I didn't care about any of them. I didn't give it 1 star because this is someone who can write... probably better than me, but for me it just didn't work.