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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
persephone123's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The only thing I remembered of this book was the tension. It does a great job of keeping you guessing if this is magical realism or characters going crazy (or both). There is also a narrator that may be untrustworthy. I thought it was fairly fast paced and a quick read.
yostertag's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to this right after listening to "The Goon Squad," which is a tribute to Egan's writing prowess but also partially speaks to my desire to experience a less fragmented novel of hers. "The Keep" delivered on all of those counts. The format of the story bounced between two main scenes, and then united brilliantly at the end of the book.
It deals heavily in flashbacks from the childhood of one of the characters (as two of the principle characters are cousins and have a somewhat sordid history). A washed up man on the cusp of middle age accepts an invitation to travel to a castle in Germany that his cousin has purchased and plans to turn into a hotel. The story meanders between this world and that of a prisoner taking a creative writing class somewhere in the US. Egan is at her best when she plays with reality of her main characters, duping the reader into confusing real and imagined.
Perhaps the best part of this book is when the two different scenes/settings/characters intertwine. In foresight analyzing the plot makes the twist seem obvious, but for some reason it creeped up on me when I heard the story unravel.
Great book, and relatively unknown I believe.
It deals heavily in flashbacks from the childhood of one of the characters (as two of the principle characters are cousins and have a somewhat sordid history). A washed up man on the cusp of middle age accepts an invitation to travel to a castle in Germany that his cousin has purchased and plans to turn into a hotel. The story meanders between this world and that of a prisoner taking a creative writing class somewhere in the US. Egan is at her best when she plays with reality of her main characters, duping the reader into confusing real and imagined.
Perhaps the best part of this book is when the two different scenes/settings/characters intertwine. In foresight analyzing the plot makes the twist seem obvious, but for some reason it creeped up on me when I heard the story unravel.
Great book, and relatively unknown I believe.
manavisharma's review against another edition
2.0
This book had such promise and it fell so flat. There was such potential to flesh out the main characters, especially in the gorgeous setting of this old castle but the book makes them both one dimensional. It feels like Egan is trying to tie Danny's obsession with technology into a larger commentary on being connected/addicted but t comes off as corny and off-putting. The entire part 3 of the book achieves nothing - why do I care about Holly??? I came here expecting it to be English Patient - esque, based on the description, but I was sorely disappointed.
Giving it two stars because of the sequence where Danny thought he was losing his mind - that was extremely well done!
Giving it two stars because of the sequence where Danny thought he was losing his mind - that was extremely well done!
tjonesnp09's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first read by Author Egan.
As I listened to this audiobook , I was hooked from the beginning.
I appreciate having two narrators to really bring all the characters together.
It starts off with a tragedy; then the back story. Vivid writing; descriptive… able to see it in your mind.
A psychological thriller. It feels like Ray is telling a story he is writing. In actuality it’s HIS story. Great plot twists right up to the end.
Holly…. I felt for her just as much as I felt for Danny. But things had a way of going awry.
I do wish Holly and Ray could have had their time… truly.
All in all an engaging read!
#psychthriller
As I listened to this audiobook , I was hooked from the beginning.
I appreciate having two narrators to really bring all the characters together.
It starts off with a tragedy; then the back story. Vivid writing; descriptive… able to see it in your mind.
A psychological thriller. It feels like Ray is telling a story he is writing. In actuality it’s HIS story. Great plot twists right up to the end.
Holly…. I felt for her just as much as I felt for Danny. But things had a way of going awry.
I do wish Holly and Ray could have had their time… truly.
All in all an engaging read!
#psychthriller
garbgini's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
sigridts's review against another edition
4.0
Mye rart i denne boka, men nok gode scener til at jeg ikke kan la være å like den! Siste delen av boka, kunne godt vært kuttet, men de to historiene vi følger opp til da er spennede og sterke.
brigidroz's review against another edition
3.0
Despite all the negative reviews I just scanned, I really enjoyed this book - an easy read but enough twists and turns to keep me thinking.
gabbyenoaktown's review against another edition
2.0
I read it, remember parts, remember I didn't love it.