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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
There were parts of the actual story that I didn't overly care for, but I fell in love with Cassandra and her family. I especially loved the diary format; I can't recall ever reading a book from this time period written in that style, and it really helped to showcase my favourite aspect of reading classic literature - which is the fact that human behaviour and psychology really has not changed very much over time. It was so delightful to read Cassandra's observations and witticisms and worries and realise that a 17 year old now could probably write the same thing. People will always be people and that's terrifying and fascinating and comforting, all at once.
Such a lovely book and Cassandra is one of the best narrators - I just know that if I was a 17 year old in the year this was published I would have eaten this up. The narrator is so sincere about everything, which makes her both genuinely and often unintentionally hilarious, as well as offering some very needed reality checks to the adults around her.
The only reason I wouldn't give 5 is because the story relied on my caring or at least having an opinion about the other characters (it's not a complex plot) but unfortunately they all just paled in comparison to the narrators voice. Given it was written as a diary or journal, I think it makes sense for her voice to be the loudest and the others to be reduced to how they interacted with her, but it did make it hard at times to care about how things unfolded and therefore set the time aside to read and 'find out what happens next'.
Wish I had saved it for a holiday in the countryside because it felt a bit disrespectful to the book to be cramming it into my crusty 20 min commutes
The only reason I wouldn't give 5 is because the story relied on my caring or at least having an opinion about the other characters (it's not a complex plot) but unfortunately they all just paled in comparison to the narrators voice. Given it was written as a diary or journal, I think it makes sense for her voice to be the loudest and the others to be reduced to how they interacted with her, but it did make it hard at times to care about how things unfolded and therefore set the time aside to read and 'find out what happens next'.
Wish I had saved it for a holiday in the countryside because it felt a bit disrespectful to the book to be cramming it into my crusty 20 min commutes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
“I love owls, but I wish God had made them vegetarian.”
New favourite quote
New favourite quote
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
hopeful
reflective
slow-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