Scan barcode
fhammond_36's review against another edition
5.0
Gruesome. Good. Courageous and ordinary and bad characters.
pinkfreud1's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This isn't an easy read. Both because of the prose and the themes. But it kind of complements each other. Alison lives a fragmented life with fragmented memories and childhood. Thus the prose complements this staggered state of mind of a very vulnerable person who just wants to feel loved and belonged.
Colette isn't too sure where her life is going and neither does the prose. Her confusion is ours.
The fiends are scary because they can be supernatural and scary, but haunting of a very sad childhood and thus even scarier.
Overall, I liked that the book was a challenge and read like one.
Colette isn't too sure where her life is going and neither does the prose. Her confusion is ours.
The fiends are scary because they can be supernatural and scary, but haunting of a very sad childhood and thus even scarier.
Overall, I liked that the book was a challenge and read like one.
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, and Fatphobia
youthfulexpression's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
rozydozy's review
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jamesgoodwin1982's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Having read a few of Hilary Mantel's other works I was quite looking forward to reading this. Telling of a psychic who travels around the suburbs north of London, the novel explores the background of the main character Alison and her assistant Collette.
I found I struggled with some of the more supernatural elements of this novel, I found the bits where spirits appeared to become a bit hard to follow on times and to understand what was reality and what wasn't. The main sections which followed the pair as they travelled was interesting and I would have liked the novel to be more of this.
Overall not may favourite book by the author.
I found I struggled with some of the more supernatural elements of this novel, I found the bits where spirits appeared to become a bit hard to follow on times and to understand what was reality and what wasn't. The main sections which followed the pair as they travelled was interesting and I would have liked the novel to be more of this.
Overall not may favourite book by the author.
006pen's review
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book and Hillary Mantel us always good quality reading.
jmcook's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
fanninh's review
4.0
I really liked this, though there were some elements that didn't seem to fit the overall theme. The ending was kinder to the protagonist than I was expecting but that's a good thing.
A tough read, not a joyful story, would recommend to some friends. Definitely not my parents.
A tough read, not a joyful story, would recommend to some friends. Definitely not my parents.
seyda_neen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5