Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Snow by John Banville

21 reviews

elizabethpero's review

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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hconnellyal's review against another edition

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dark 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? Yes

1.0

I love Agatha Christie. Although I see the topic and structure similarities to her works, it is beyond me how reviewers have put this book in the category of her works. The pace is excruciating, the ending painfully predictable and deeply unsatisfying, the characters flat ... and worst of all, the pedophilia is unnecessarily, gratuitously detailed.
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mercurialbooks's review against another edition

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sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

I cannot say I enjoyed this, as soon as the murder happens it is pretty obvious who the criminal is and even why they would have committed murder. Which is unfortunate.

That and the complete lack of actual investigation on the part of the detective left me a little confused as to how this has been pitched as a mystery / crime story at all. 

The main character seems to just hang out in the local area and it gets solved because someone eventually tells him the answer. 

So many plot holes it was painful. Oh that character isn't violent because he once worked in a butchers and couldn't wring a chickens neck? But he has literally just hunted a rabbit and split it open to gut it for cooking and doesn't blink?
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mantnam's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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? No

3.25

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ebtheladynovelist's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.5

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guyc1992's review against another edition

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emilydg's review against another edition

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challenging dark 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? Yes

3.5

I loved the writing style, the author transported me to a wintry Ireland of the time and the pace, though slow, was almost soothingly so. 
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travelseatsreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

3.0

A well constructed murder mystery which kept tension slowly simmering throughout.
I didn't love or hate this one but thought the interlude while downright disgusting was fantastically well done. A brave move by Banville to try and get into the heads of these absolute monsters.
I felt Jenkins going missing was done in a bit of a lazy fashion and felt like it was there just to wrap up the plot at the end, and think developing that aspect of the story may have been more beneficial than the countless unnecessary pubs scenes.
A solid 3 star for me, a good read but nothing spectacular.
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helenfarch's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad slow-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

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devilstatedan's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An outstanding piece of gothic noir literary historical crime writing! A young 1950's detective is called to an estate in Ireland to determine who killed the local priest. The priest's body has been mutilated and the crime is under threat of being suppressed by the catholic church higher-ups, who have a loose control over Ireland. The detective's journey is mysterious and as he attempts to deduct the truth from the constant lies of those around the estate. The cast of characters is interesting and all are self-serving in one way or another, and Banville's way with words is something to marvel at indeed, as he describes the oppressive environment of freezing snow and relentless cold. It's gothic and dark and the subject matter becomes increasingly challenging as the story unravels and we learn the truth of just who all these people really are beneath the surface. Truly amazing writing.
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