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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
- Even though the characters are supposed to be the main focus of this book, the personalities of the characters are all the same.
- The setting is supposed to be this cozy, shared space in London, but I didn't get this vibe at all.
- Almost ALL the characters were some kind of a minority or oppressed or something.
- The activism line of the book was unexpected and very out of place in this supposed-to-be cozy book.
- The characters did not communicate. Even when they were supposed to or needed to, they didn't.
- I feel like the author just created a book full of characters based on herself and her life.
Something I did enjoy though: it was a good idea, just a lot of wasted opportunities and potential.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very sweet and cozy. I liked the story, it was very wholesome. But I didn't find myself feeling attached to the characters like I was with the Reading List.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked the premise of this book, and I liked the characters, but there were a couple of things that kept me from loving it. The pacing seemed too slow to me, and the extra verbiage didn't add any more depth to the story or characters. Some of the ways new characters or events were introduced were odd, like they were talked about for two pages, and then introduced or explained. And finally, I wish the main character found more strength in herself earlier in her life. As it was, it made for a sad ending, to me.
I love the idea of a community garden bringing people together, and watching the community grow over time. There were a few moments in the book that were very moving. But there were too many distractions for me to really love the book.
I love the idea of a community garden bringing people together, and watching the community grow over time. There were a few moments in the book that were very moving. But there were too many distractions for me to really love the book.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Local community in the inner city, mapping the changes over the years but giving hope that a kind deed goes a long way
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
slow-paced
“Still, at least there’s the garden. Every year it changes, but it always feels as magical as ever.”
The gate for the garden shared by 77 and 79 Eastbourne Road has been rusted shut for years, which is exactly how Winston and Berenice prefer it — they’ve got enough problems without having to worry about weeds or each other. But interesting seeds are planted when faded copies of photos and news clippings from the garden’s heyday began falling through their mail slots. Can these neighbors overcome their own troubles enough to grow something beautiful together?
Sometimes I need to read a novel where the focus is on characters rather than plot, and The Twilight Garden fit the bill perfectly. I gravitated more toward Berenice’s story than Winston’s, but what really stuck with me is the friendship between Maya and Alma. A few too many characters and the heavy-handed gardening metaphor took this down to three stars, but the end got me right in the feels.
Read this if you like “quiet” novels full of character development.
The gate for the garden shared by 77 and 79 Eastbourne Road has been rusted shut for years, which is exactly how Winston and Berenice prefer it — they’ve got enough problems without having to worry about weeds or each other. But interesting seeds are planted when faded copies of photos and news clippings from the garden’s heyday began falling through their mail slots. Can these neighbors overcome their own troubles enough to grow something beautiful together?
Sometimes I need to read a novel where the focus is on characters rather than plot, and The Twilight Garden fit the bill perfectly. I gravitated more toward Berenice’s story than Winston’s, but what really stuck with me is the friendship between Maya and Alma. A few too many characters and the heavy-handed gardening metaphor took this down to three stars, but the end got me right in the feels.
Read this if you like “quiet” novels full of character development.