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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Ultimately this was an interesting story. Probably some of my disappointment with it results from mistaken expectations about the tone of this book (I thought it was going to be serious, but in fact it was a bit comical and cynical). The plot got a lot more interesting the deeper I got into the book, which was a relief after a lot of boring back and forth that didn’t seem necessary. The writing was decent and I liked getting to know the main character.
When my library loan ended, I had so many lingering questions (and no other book on my shelf) that I decided to purchase Transcription and see what happened. I don’t regret that decision, despite my 3 star rating. I did enjoy the book. I just wished that there had been more of a story to it. As I read, I had this lingering feeling that there was more to know about the story, but it was just out of reach — beyond the pages of the book. I wanted to love it, but just liked it instead.
Enjoyable. Juliet was sometimes just a bit too much, and not authentic feeling to me.
Back in June, being a Kate Atkinson fan, I reserved this at my public library. It did not arrive until October and the wait was more exciting to me eventually than the book. World War II and its aftermath, spies, England, smart woman protagonist, an excellent writer, but it just didn't grab me like Atkinson's previous books. My main takeaway is that as a USan I am basically clueless, even though I have read a fair amount of British books about the two world wars, about the deep effect of the wars on British life to a point of identity as clearly shown in this book. And with what is going on in the U.S. and across the globe the political and social choices made in 1940 and 1950 seem to be coming around again . . .
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
It took me a bit to get into this book, but it was worth persisting. Clever, well written, suspenseful. A story of espionage in pre-Blitz London during WWII and after.
If give this 3 1/2 stars. Interesting read and interesting ending.