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camilleisreading24's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a good 50 or 60 pages to really get into this book-- but from that point, I was hooked. A quote on the back cover compares "The Bellwether Revivals" to one of my favorite novels, Donna Tartt's "The Secret History." In a macro sense, these novels do have certain similarities: both are set in and around an elite college campus; both concern the induction of a curious outsider, of lesser means, into a cliquish and mysterious group of wealthy, intellectual undergraduates; both concern a tragedy at the hands of the group's de facto leader, whose brilliance is tinged with madness.
But the similarities end when one begins to get into the heart of this story, and I think that is a positive thing. Almost nobody can measure up to the near perfection of Tartt's prose-- and is it any wonder, considering she spends about 10 years writing each novel? Matt Wood's novel is very good, but it can't measure up to "The Secret History."
Oscar is a young caretaker working at a nursing home near Oxford University. He meets the lovely Iris Bellwether and is drawn into the close circle of her friends and narcissistic brother, Eden. All except Oscar are musically inclined. Eden is the resident organ scholar (who knew such a thing existed?), iris plays cello, and their friends are talented singers and musicians. This book is as much about the budding romance between Oscar and Iris as it is a psychological study of Eden's personality. He is conceited and obnoxious, but wildly talented. He seems to know things before they happen and to be privy to conversations that happen out of his earshot. The title of the novel concerns a series of experiments Eden conducts in which he uses music to heal people.
One of the things I found quite interesting about this novel is how it walks a thin line between danger and safety. The characters in the novel are often able to rationalize Eden's behavior as annoying but harmless, and it is unclear whether he is truly dangerous or simply a bit of pill for most of the book.
I liked the writing style a lot and the character of Oscar is likely to stay with me for some time. This book also stoked my interest in reading about narcissistic personality disorders, and I was disappointed that the book written by the character Herbert Crest is fictional. I would recommend this novel, but don't go into it expecting another "The Secret History." Give it a chance to stand on its own.
But the similarities end when one begins to get into the heart of this story, and I think that is a positive thing. Almost nobody can measure up to the near perfection of Tartt's prose-- and is it any wonder, considering she spends about 10 years writing each novel? Matt Wood's novel is very good, but it can't measure up to "The Secret History."
Oscar is a young caretaker working at a nursing home near Oxford University. He meets the lovely Iris Bellwether and is drawn into the close circle of her friends and narcissistic brother, Eden. All except Oscar are musically inclined. Eden is the resident organ scholar (who knew such a thing existed?), iris plays cello, and their friends are talented singers and musicians. This book is as much about the budding romance between Oscar and Iris as it is a psychological study of Eden's personality. He is conceited and obnoxious, but wildly talented. He seems to know things before they happen and to be privy to conversations that happen out of his earshot. The title of the novel concerns a series of experiments Eden conducts in which he uses music to heal people.
One of the things I found quite interesting about this novel is how it walks a thin line between danger and safety. The characters in the novel are often able to rationalize Eden's behavior as annoying but harmless, and it is unclear whether he is truly dangerous or simply a bit of pill for most of the book.
I liked the writing style a lot and the character of Oscar is likely to stay with me for some time. This book also stoked my interest in reading about narcissistic personality disorders, and I was disappointed that the book written by the character Herbert Crest is fictional. I would recommend this novel, but don't go into it expecting another "The Secret History." Give it a chance to stand on its own.
minimallibrary's review against another edition
4.0
i love a college town setting and dark academia as a genre so it was pretty impossible for me to dislike it. definitely not on the same level as the secret history (which is one of my favourites of all time) but still captured a mysterious atmosphere and had complicated characters. it did drag on for parts but overall i liked my reading experience.
foodforbookworms's review against another edition
5.0
For such a raved about book it was extremely difficult to track down Benjamin Wood’s The Bellwether Revivals (especially when you’ve banned yourself from buying books online!), but I did finally unearth a copy in a sequestered corner of my local Waterstones. In fact, it wouldn’t be far from the truth to say that I held it in a bear grip until I reached the till…
Our protagonist is Oscar, a retirement home carer who one day finds himself drawn into a chapel, moved by the sound of organ music coming from within. While there he’s soon seduced by the quiet beauty of Cambridge medical student Iris and quickly finds himself ingratiated among her university friends and more crucially, her musical protégée/organ playing brother Eden.
It doesn’t take long to realise that Eden isn’t just a proud virtuoso when one evening he decides the best way to persuade Oscar of his righteous beliefs in the healing power of music is to stick a nail through his hand(!). At the same time Iris and Oscar embark on their relationship, they agree to help Iris find evidence to support her fears that her brother isn’t as sound in mind as he thinks. Events quickly escalate once they enlist the help of a prominent psychologist, yet little do they know that their project will have irredeemable consequences for all involved…
So I can’t pinpoint any one element that makes this book great…it’s simply brilliant. From the moment Oscar meets Iris you too are sucked into the Bellwethers’ intimate world. Just like Oscar you feel bewildered by their privileged way of life and their (mostly) unchallenged acceptance of Eden’s extreme personality and beliefs.
The Bellwether Revivals’ beauty also lies in the depth of thought that’s gone into these characters – Oscar feels completely real and fleshed out while the relationship between the Bellwethers and their friends seems complex, almost tangible – partly due to Benjamin Wood’s wonderfully evocative style of writing. It’s got such a flow to it and is so nuanced that by the end of the novel you almost feel that subconsciously you knew what was going to happen – simply because no other ending would fit.
Although, just like Oscar you can’t accept the fact that Eden possesses this impossible power to heal people, there’s always a niggling voice in the back of your mind wondering whether it could all actually be true. This is a common feeling throughout the book – it’s rare that we’re ever explicitly told what’s going on – and it’s brilliant. There is a particularly powerful passage that I can’t get out of my mind in which Wood hints at the nature of Oscar’s relationship with his father:
"It was in his mind now: that horrible banging of the back door latch, loud as a gunshot; a gust sweeping right through the house as his father arrived home. Then the urgent thump of his father’s feet on the stairs […]"
And the ending – the ending is so devastatingly beautiful (and unexpected) that you’ll feel like you’ve been dealt a blow. I promise you’ll be left reeling just as much as Oscar and his friends are.
The Bellwether Revivals has easily secured a spot in my all-time favourite novels and with a film adaptation in the works it seems like perfect timing! I must admit that it left me in a bit of a book slump for a couple of days as it felt like whatever I read next simply wouldn’t measure up! Needless to say, I’ve already acquired a copy of Benjamin Wood’s latest release – The Ecliptic – and I’ll be losing myself in that pretty soon. I feel like I can’t do The Bellwether Revivals justice in this review but I guarantee if you like The Secret History (or just great literary fiction) you’ll want to meet Oscar and the Bellwethers.
Our protagonist is Oscar, a retirement home carer who one day finds himself drawn into a chapel, moved by the sound of organ music coming from within. While there he’s soon seduced by the quiet beauty of Cambridge medical student Iris and quickly finds himself ingratiated among her university friends and more crucially, her musical protégée/organ playing brother Eden.
It doesn’t take long to realise that Eden isn’t just a proud virtuoso when one evening he decides the best way to persuade Oscar of his righteous beliefs in the healing power of music is to stick a nail through his hand(!). At the same time Iris and Oscar embark on their relationship, they agree to help Iris find evidence to support her fears that her brother isn’t as sound in mind as he thinks. Events quickly escalate once they enlist the help of a prominent psychologist, yet little do they know that their project will have irredeemable consequences for all involved…
So I can’t pinpoint any one element that makes this book great…it’s simply brilliant. From the moment Oscar meets Iris you too are sucked into the Bellwethers’ intimate world. Just like Oscar you feel bewildered by their privileged way of life and their (mostly) unchallenged acceptance of Eden’s extreme personality and beliefs.
The Bellwether Revivals’ beauty also lies in the depth of thought that’s gone into these characters – Oscar feels completely real and fleshed out while the relationship between the Bellwethers and their friends seems complex, almost tangible – partly due to Benjamin Wood’s wonderfully evocative style of writing. It’s got such a flow to it and is so nuanced that by the end of the novel you almost feel that subconsciously you knew what was going to happen – simply because no other ending would fit.
Although, just like Oscar you can’t accept the fact that Eden possesses this impossible power to heal people, there’s always a niggling voice in the back of your mind wondering whether it could all actually be true. This is a common feeling throughout the book – it’s rare that we’re ever explicitly told what’s going on – and it’s brilliant. There is a particularly powerful passage that I can’t get out of my mind in which Wood hints at the nature of Oscar’s relationship with his father:
"It was in his mind now: that horrible banging of the back door latch, loud as a gunshot; a gust sweeping right through the house as his father arrived home. Then the urgent thump of his father’s feet on the stairs […]"
And the ending – the ending is so devastatingly beautiful (and unexpected) that you’ll feel like you’ve been dealt a blow. I promise you’ll be left reeling just as much as Oscar and his friends are.
The Bellwether Revivals has easily secured a spot in my all-time favourite novels and with a film adaptation in the works it seems like perfect timing! I must admit that it left me in a bit of a book slump for a couple of days as it felt like whatever I read next simply wouldn’t measure up! Needless to say, I’ve already acquired a copy of Benjamin Wood’s latest release – The Ecliptic – and I’ll be losing myself in that pretty soon. I feel like I can’t do The Bellwether Revivals justice in this review but I guarantee if you like The Secret History (or just great literary fiction) you’ll want to meet Oscar and the Bellwethers.
egg_carpark's review against another edition
relaxing
slow-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
3.5
debi_g's review against another edition
2.0
Sentence by sentence, this book is composed well. The deliberate nature of the setting, the subject, and the gothic bit add up to a competent literary whole, and some of the descriptions are truly lovely. The plot, which could come across as brash, is deftly handled in an understated way.
However.
I did not enjoy The Bellwether Revivals' characters or storyline.
However.
I did not enjoy The Bellwether Revivals' characters or storyline.
blueseyberries's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
2.5
brekkerandco's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
geilie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
albatrossonhalfpointe's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A decently enjoyable read, but some inconsistency that leaves me not believing that the author really understands what's going on.
More at https://kingshearte.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-bellwether-revivals-benjamin-wood.html
More at https://kingshearte.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-bellwether-revivals-benjamin-wood.html
melissakuzma's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it! Like others have said, it reminded me of The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I love a good college setting! Sort of spoiler...
But I thought it was a total cop-out not to include Dr. Cress's analysis of Eden at the end. I would love to have heard his insights into this strange character. I see absolutely no reason for the author to have left this out.
But I thought it was a total cop-out not to include Dr. Cress's analysis of Eden at the end. I would love to have heard his insights into this strange character. I see absolutely no reason for the author to have left this out.