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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
reflective
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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Catton demonstrates clever portrayal of the fine line between reality and theatrically- with the reader never being able to distinguish whether the events are real or staged.
The book forms that of 2 strands:
1. Firstly the drama set around the sex scandal at and all girls school and a saxophone teacher based near by.
2. Secondly, a young boy Stanley’s journey into an elite drama school and how they put on a devised piece of theatre based around the fore mentioned sex scandal.
The one thing that let this book down for me was the overdramatised and caricature version of drama schools presented. As I attend a drama school myself, this made this section of the book feel unrealistic and over the top making for a large disconnect from the story.
However, the writing was very intelligent and the structure of the book innovative.
The book forms that of 2 strands:
1. Firstly the drama set around the sex scandal at and all girls school and a saxophone teacher based near by.
2. Secondly, a young boy Stanley’s journey into an elite drama school and how they put on a devised piece of theatre based around the fore mentioned sex scandal.
The one thing that let this book down for me was the overdramatised and caricature version of drama schools presented. As I attend a drama school myself, this made this section of the book feel unrealistic and over the top making for a large disconnect from the story.
However, the writing was very intelligent and the structure of the book innovative.
Catton nails high school and theatre school. Awesome.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
If I could have understand what was happening, I might have enjoyed it.
Bought in New Zealand at a bookseller's recommendation, but not my cup of tea. Creepy psycho-sexual theme made it uncomfortable to read, and the shifting points of view and deliberately cool prose made me think she was trying too hard.
I loved this book for many reasons: the anxiety it instilled in me! Beautiful sentences! Moral ambiguity! Female characters who have actual personalities!
Between this book and Birnam Wood I think Eleanor Catton is really skilled at taking a bunch of distinct characters and shoving them at each other and into a plot. Novels about students can be difficult because they often devolve into stereotype, but I enjoyed how The Rehearsal tried to avoid it. As someone who has studied both theatre and music, I think Catton got the details just right enough to make them dramatic and compelling. I would really recommend this book!
Between this book and Birnam Wood I think Eleanor Catton is really skilled at taking a bunch of distinct characters and shoving them at each other and into a plot. Novels about students can be difficult because they often devolve into stereotype, but I enjoyed how The Rehearsal tried to avoid it. As someone who has studied both theatre and music, I think Catton got the details just right enough to make them dramatic and compelling. I would really recommend this book!
This is one of the most unfair average ratings I’ve ever seen on goodreads. This book is a masterpiece. I savoured every page. Among the best writing I’ve ever encountered on the female body and adolescent desire. Catton is searingly insightful and writes a damn good yarn. IGNORE THE RATINGS AND READ THIS.