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samwescott's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Beautiful, moody, and weird. Not much happens plot wise and what does happen goes largely unexplained in very conspicuous and weird ways. It's a quirky novel about a sympathetic, idiosyncratic main character with extremely beautiful writing. I do recommend it, but go in expecting more of an experience than a linear story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Murder
emilo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Death
Minor: Racial slurs
eatenbywaffles's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
For being a short book, it took me a while to get thru it. It started off fine, but it took me a few pages to get use to the author's writing style. Elspeth Barker's writing is beautiful imo! The way she describes a scene/mood is so smooth(?? I'm having trouble conveying what I mean haha ^^; ). Maybe lyrical? Graceful? Idk, but I loved it once I settled into the story.
The main character, Janet, was interesting...
I sympathized with her, but she was a bit cringey and I could understand why she didn't have any friends. But I also felt a kinship with her because I get it. She just wanted to be left alone to read and hangout with her animal friends, and daydream about how she wanted her life to be. She seemed like a regular kid/teenage girl. Her family kind of did suck too, which is why she was also crappy at times lol. But idk, I liked her for the most part!
We start off knowing she's going to die young, which sort of gave me the lingering feeling of having a dark cloud over me while I read.ESPECIALLY when we get to Janet's and Claws' relationship! I cried man, I felt so bad for Claws, even now while I type this out Q_Q
Overall, a good book that is well-written!
The main character, Janet, was interesting...
I sympathized with her, but she was a bit cringey and I could understand why she didn't have any friends. But I also felt a kinship with her because I get it. She just wanted to be left alone to read and hangout with her animal friends, and daydream about how she wanted her life to be. She seemed like a regular kid/teenage girl. Her family kind of did suck too, which is why she was also crappy at times lol. But idk, I liked her for the most part!
We start off knowing she's going to die young, which sort of gave me the lingering feeling of having a dark cloud over me while I read.
Overall, a good book that is well-written!
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder and Sexual harassment
toffishay's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really felt for Janet, felt connected to her. The book starts at the end and then moves backwards. You know how the story ends up for Janet. In a way, she knows this too. But watching her grow up and grow against a world that doesn't even try to understand her, that pushes her down and hurts her, is no less tactile because we know that she won't escape. Or she does, in her own way, but through the actions of others. The writing style is absolutely stunning. The descriptions of her home are so beautiful, even as the settings are tense and breaking down, and horrific. It felt like an honor to read about Janet's life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Murder, Emotional abuse, Death, Child death, and Misogyny
Moderate: Violence, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Body shaming, and Vomit
Minor: War, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Eating disorder
sarahbythebook's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!
A rerelease of a 1991 novel, O Caledonia follows the coming of age of Janet. Janet is a young girl that is struggling to fit in to every aspect of her life in Scotland. From her family to her school to society at large, nowhere feels comfortable or easy. Her life is cut short, though, when she is murdered in her own home at the age of 16.
This is not a whodunnit. It is a mix of a coming of age story and gothic romanticism. The prose of the story and the descriptions of Scotland are hauntingly beautiful, but this book ultimately was a miss for me. The main character is unlikeable, but I found it impossible not to pity her. Her mother openly dislikes her (and all of her children?) because she is so different. Janet doesn't make things easy for herself, going out of the way to stand out in negative ways. And while it is not the point of the book, her ultimate demise at the end of the novel just made no real sense.
If you like tragic stories, this may land better for you. It did rekindle that everburning flame in me to visit Scotland again.
TW: Murder, child neglect, animal death
A rerelease of a 1991 novel, O Caledonia follows the coming of age of Janet. Janet is a young girl that is struggling to fit in to every aspect of her life in Scotland. From her family to her school to society at large, nowhere feels comfortable or easy. Her life is cut short, though, when she is murdered in her own home at the age of 16.
This is not a whodunnit. It is a mix of a coming of age story and gothic romanticism. The prose of the story and the descriptions of Scotland are hauntingly beautiful, but this book ultimately was a miss for me. The main character is unlikeable, but I found it impossible not to pity her. Her mother openly dislikes her (and all of her children?) because she is so different. Janet doesn't make things easy for herself, going out of the way to stand out in negative ways. And while it is not the point of the book, her ultimate demise at the end of the novel just made no real sense.
If you like tragic stories, this may land better for you. It did rekindle that everburning flame in me to visit Scotland again.
TW: Murder, child neglect, animal death
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Murder
waybeyondblue's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Animal cruelty, Sexual harassment, and Animal death
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