Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What an odd little book. I was bored and frustrated by Edith and confused about the time period this was supposed to be set in. The descriptions of the lake and surrounding mountains was undeniably well drawn, perhaps the characters less so. Overall this really wasn't for me. Dull.
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Meticulously constructed and atmospheric, if a little dull.
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
relaxing
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
Its a lovely story, albeit an extremely internal one. The setting is also lovely and intriguing. I enjoyed spending a summer at the Hotel du Lac despite its air of desperation.
I found the writing was technically not my taste. Its fine. You might like it. But I don't like sentences that never end. Or long narrative passages that tell me what a character is thinking and why. I'd prefer the author show me the character's behavior or dialog and let me apply what I know about human nature to their emotional state. That being said, I do not think Brookner relies too heavily on telling (not showing.) It just happens that the action of this book happens in the protagonist, Edith Hope's head. And therefore Brookner takes her narrative there.
It read like a longish short story for me. There didn't seem to need any chapters divisions. Like the long stretch of summer ahead of Edith, the story moves along a similar ribbon.
I found the ending very satisfying and kind of delightful, so there's that to look forward to. Also its quite short which is helpful given the density of some pages.
I probably will read Brookner again, just to see if all her novels are like this. She has a real gift for realistic but quirky characters and scene building, two things I really love. I just wish she stuck to a standard style book more closely.
I found the writing was technically not my taste. Its fine. You might like it. But I don't like sentences that never end. Or long narrative passages that tell me what a character is thinking and why. I'd prefer the author show me the character's behavior or dialog and let me apply what I know about human nature to their emotional state. That being said, I do not think Brookner relies too heavily on telling (not showing.) It just happens that the action of this book happens in the protagonist, Edith Hope's head. And therefore Brookner takes her narrative there.
It read like a longish short story for me. There didn't seem to need any chapters divisions. Like the long stretch of summer ahead of Edith, the story moves along a similar ribbon.
I found the ending very satisfying and kind of delightful, so there's that to look forward to. Also its quite short which is helpful given the density of some pages.
I probably will read Brookner again, just to see if all her novels are like this. She has a real gift for realistic but quirky characters and scene building, two things I really love. I just wish she stuck to a standard style book more closely.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
beautiful language. second-wave-feminism. reflective about the woman‘s role in society.
A Subtle and Melancholic Reflection on Solitude ★★★½
Anita Brookner’s Hotel du Lac is a quiet, introspective novel that explores themes of loneliness, societal expectations, and self-discovery. The story follows Edith Hope, a reserved novelist who retreats to a secluded Swiss hotel after a personal scandal. There, she observes and interacts with a small group of guests, each reflecting different facets of love, marriage, and independence.
Brookner’s writing is elegant and restrained, perfectly capturing the melancholic beauty of Edith’s isolation. The novel’s strength lies in its precise, understated prose and psychological depth. However, the slow pace and lack of dramatic action may not appeal to all readers. While the book offers a thoughtful meditation on a woman’s place in society, some might find Edith’s passivity frustrating, and the resolution somewhat unsatisfying.
Overall, Hotel du Lac is a beautifully crafted novel best suited for readers who appreciate quiet, character-driven stories rather than fast-paced narratives. It lingers in the mind, even if it doesn’t fully captivate the heart.
Anita Brookner’s Hotel du Lac is a quiet, introspective novel that explores themes of loneliness, societal expectations, and self-discovery. The story follows Edith Hope, a reserved novelist who retreats to a secluded Swiss hotel after a personal scandal. There, she observes and interacts with a small group of guests, each reflecting different facets of love, marriage, and independence.
Brookner’s writing is elegant and restrained, perfectly capturing the melancholic beauty of Edith’s isolation. The novel’s strength lies in its precise, understated prose and psychological depth. However, the slow pace and lack of dramatic action may not appeal to all readers. While the book offers a thoughtful meditation on a woman’s place in society, some might find Edith’s passivity frustrating, and the resolution somewhat unsatisfying.
Overall, Hotel du Lac is a beautifully crafted novel best suited for readers who appreciate quiet, character-driven stories rather than fast-paced narratives. It lingers in the mind, even if it doesn’t fully captivate the heart.
Een heel mooi boek. Ik had niet eerder iets van Anita Brookner gelezen. Smaakt naar meer. Het plot is niet perse heel boeiend. Maar de observaties en gedachten van de hoofdpersoon zijn dat wel. Ik moest aan Proust denken. Vooral de humor.