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madamstassica's review against another edition
1.0
Too simple and bland. I would like to say this book was at least entertaining, but I can't even give it that much. The story was too slow, and contained a lot of redundancy. The author repeats the character's back stories over and over and over again. I found myself flipping through pages and thinking "yeah, she's already covered this a few times now". It makes me wonder how much shorter the book would be if she stopped repeating herself. The author also had too many story lines going on at once. Characters were introduced, a story line was set in motion, and suddenly they would disappear for a few chapters. By the time they returned, you had forgotten what was going on, and sometimes she didn't even bother finishing a story line!
My biggest gripe about the book though, is the characters. The good characters are saints, and the bad characters are pure evil. There's no grey area. This was especially disappointing considering what the main story line was. Goody good India falls in love with Sid, who happens to be the most famous gangster in town. But Sid's character was no where near being questionable and dangerous. Sid, like India, was a pure hearted angel, who happened to be in charge of a bunch of thugs. It was hard to believe he was supposed to be a gangster. In fact, in the entire seven hundred and something pages, you only really see him committing one crime, which was still unexciting.
My biggest gripe about the book though, is the characters. The good characters are saints, and the bad characters are pure evil. There's no grey area. This was especially disappointing considering what the main story line was. Goody good India falls in love with Sid, who happens to be the most famous gangster in town. But Sid's character was no where near being questionable and dangerous. Sid, like India, was a pure hearted angel, who happened to be in charge of a bunch of thugs. It was hard to believe he was supposed to be a gangster. In fact, in the entire seven hundred and something pages, you only really see him committing one crime, which was still unexciting.
clonazine's review against another edition
4.0
Y finalmente lo terminé. Que libro... no sé ni qué decir ¿qué carajo NO pasa en este libro? Llegó un punto en el que yo ya estaba como ¡déjate de joder¡, ¡¿qué MÁS va a pasar ahora!?. Es un libro largo y abarca años de la vida de muchos personajes así que imagínate, es UN QUILOMBO.
Primero vamos con EL ROMANCE. A ver, yo Amé el libro anterior, amé a Fiona y Joe y en este caso ME COSTÓ BASTANTE al principio congeniar con India y Sid, la verdad que ella me cayó mal al principio, me parecía una mujer privilegiada sabelotodo e insoportable y me costó creerme su relación con Sid. También me la pasaba comparándolos con Joe y Fiona lo que tampoco sumaba porque Fiona y Joe SIEMPRE salían ganando e incluso hubo algunos capítulos que me los leí por encima para llegar a los capítulos de ellos.
PERO como es un libro largo la autora se las ingenia para que te termines encariñando con los protagonistas y el quid de la cuestión es que India tiene que APRENDER y CRECER entonces deja de ser lo que acá en Argentina conocemos como "una milipili" (una chica de clase alta que vive en una nube de pedo). Hubo VARIAS instancias en las que quise abandonar el libro pero menos mal que seguí porque para el momento en que Sid e India se deciden a estar juntos son unos capítulos bellamente escritos que te desgarran el corazón porque vos SABES que esto VA A TERMINAR MAL.
LOS PERSONAJES SECUNDARIOS:
Como sabemos sí bien Sid e India SON LOS PROTAGONISTAS. Tenemos a FIONA Y JOE que juegan un papel muy importante en la historia y me encantó reencontrarme con estos dos porque como ya dije antes SON MI PAREJA FAVORITA. Y en parte la razón por la que no deje este libro sin terminar.
Y después tenemos a SEAMUS Y WILLA, que me sorprendió el protagonismo que tuvieron siendo que el siguiente libro es sobre ellos. No sé, me gustó la pareja y se viene trágica su historia pero estoy medio desenamorada y me da cosa que su libro no me guste. Espero estar equivocada.
LA HISTORIA:
Creo que este es el libro MÁS QUILOMBERO que leí en mi vida. Ojo, me encanta leerme estos dramas familiares larguísimos pero acá por momentos sentí que la autora SE ABUSÓ y a veces ¡MENOS ES MÁS JENNIFER!. ¿qué no pasa? Asesinatos, sexo, política, corrupción, medicina, derechos de las mujeres, movimiento obrero, amputaciones, colonialismo, venganza, escaladores de montañas, Londres, Antártica, África, muertes fingidas (VARIAS), escapar de la policía (VARIAS VECES), prostitución, drogas, delincuencia, muerte por ataque de animales salvajes... QUERES MÁS?. Es DEMASIADO, hubo MUCHOS momentos en los que quise dejar la historia, un poco por el drama, porque comparaba siempre con el libro anterior que me gustó mucho más y porque ya le ves conociendo el estilo a la autora y ya sabes para donde va la historia.
PERO a pesar de todo eso, un momento estaba RENEGANDO y haciendome mala sangre por TODO lo que pasaba, queriendome sacarme el libro de encima y terminarlo de una vez y AL OTRO MINUTO estoy leyendo el epilogo y llorando a moco tendido. Esa CAPACIDAD de la autora de hacerme reir, enojar y llorar de un momento a otro es la razón por la que voy a seguir releyendo este libro por muchos años más. ¡Como llore al final! Dios mío, casi, casi me creí que iba a terminar todo mal .
Lo que más me da bronca es que vemos tan poco tiempo a los protagonistas ser felices, pero después me acordé que en el libro anterior es lo mismo y que vamos a verlos de nuevo en el siguiente libro todos felices PERO QUE BRONA QUE SEAN FELICES DE UNA vez y ya!. Lo peor de esta saga (y lo mejor) es que es re dramatica y no te da UN respiro pero es como LA VIDA MISMA y TODOS los personajes se sienten TAN REALES.
EN fin seguiría escribiendo, pero lo super recomiendo. Extremadamente romantico y emocionante. Ahora a ponerle el pecho a las balas y leer el final FINAL *lloro*.
Primero vamos con EL ROMANCE. A ver, yo Amé el libro anterior, amé a Fiona y Joe y en este caso ME COSTÓ BASTANTE al principio congeniar con India y Sid, la verdad que ella me cayó mal al principio, me parecía una mujer privilegiada sabelotodo e insoportable y me costó creerme su relación con Sid. También me la pasaba comparándolos con Joe y Fiona lo que tampoco sumaba porque Fiona y Joe SIEMPRE salían ganando e incluso hubo algunos capítulos que me los leí por encima para llegar a los capítulos de ellos.
PERO como es un libro largo la autora se las ingenia para que te termines encariñando con los protagonistas y el quid de la cuestión es que India tiene que APRENDER y CRECER entonces deja de ser lo que acá en Argentina conocemos como "una milipili" (una chica de clase alta que vive en una nube de pedo). Hubo VARIAS instancias en las que quise abandonar el libro pero menos mal que seguí porque para el momento en que Sid e India se deciden a estar juntos son unos capítulos bellamente escritos que te desgarran el corazón porque vos SABES que esto VA A TERMINAR MAL.
LOS PERSONAJES SECUNDARIOS:
Como sabemos sí bien Sid e India SON LOS PROTAGONISTAS. Tenemos a FIONA Y JOE que juegan un papel muy importante en la historia y me encantó reencontrarme con estos dos porque como ya dije antes SON MI PAREJA FAVORITA. Y en parte la razón por la que no deje este libro sin terminar.
Y después tenemos a SEAMUS Y WILLA, que me sorprendió el protagonismo que tuvieron siendo que el siguiente libro es sobre ellos. No sé, me gustó la pareja y se viene trágica su historia pero estoy medio desenamorada y me da cosa que su libro no me guste. Espero estar equivocada.
LA HISTORIA:
Creo que este es el libro MÁS QUILOMBERO que leí en mi vida. Ojo, me encanta leerme estos dramas familiares larguísimos pero acá por momentos sentí que la autora SE ABUSÓ y a veces ¡MENOS ES MÁS JENNIFER!. ¿qué no pasa? Asesinatos, sexo, política, corrupción, medicina, derechos de las mujeres, movimiento obrero, amputaciones, colonialismo, venganza, escaladores de montañas, Londres, Antártica, África, muertes fingidas (VARIAS), escapar de la policía (VARIAS VECES), prostitución, drogas, delincuencia, muerte por ataque de animales salvajes... QUERES MÁS?. Es DEMASIADO, hubo MUCHOS momentos en los que quise dejar la historia, un poco por el drama, porque comparaba siempre con el libro anterior que me gustó mucho más y porque ya le ves conociendo el estilo a la autora y ya sabes para donde va la historia.
PERO a pesar de todo eso, un momento estaba RENEGANDO y haciendome mala sangre por TODO lo que pasaba, queriendome sacarme el libro de encima y terminarlo de una vez y AL OTRO MINUTO estoy leyendo el epilogo y llorando a moco tendido. Esa CAPACIDAD de la autora de hacerme reir, enojar y llorar de un momento a otro es la razón por la que voy a seguir releyendo este libro por muchos años más. ¡Como llore al final! Dios mío, casi, casi me creí que iba a terminar todo mal .
Lo que más me da bronca es que vemos tan poco tiempo a los protagonistas ser felices, pero después me acordé que en el libro anterior es lo mismo y que vamos a verlos de nuevo en el siguiente libro todos felices PERO QUE BRONA QUE SEAN FELICES DE UNA vez y ya!. Lo peor de esta saga (y lo mejor) es que es re dramatica y no te da UN respiro pero es como LA VIDA MISMA y TODOS los personajes se sienten TAN REALES.
EN fin seguiría escribiendo, pero lo super recomiendo. Extremadamente romantico y emocionante. Ahora a ponerle el pecho a las balas y leer el final FINAL *lloro*.
amerdale's review against another edition
4.0
Meine Rezension (zur gesamten Trilogie, aber ohne Spoiler): https://amerdale.wordpress.com/2014/10/22/gelesen-jennifer-donnelly-teerosen-trilogie/
kirstena's review against another edition
4.0
Quite good for a second in a trilogy. I can't wait for the third--which she's still writing. Argh.
ecsun345's review against another edition
5.0
Exactly like Australia ( the movie ) I loved this book
: ) smiley face
SID MALONE IS THE BEST
: ) smiley face
SID MALONE IS THE BEST
datskira's review against another edition
5.0
This was a beautiful read. I couldn't put it down once I got into it. The story moved at a slow pace, but I fell in love with the characters so much that I didn't mind. It kept me interested, especially when it came to India and Sid's relationship. I loved Ella's character, her mother, and Charlotte. The only thing that I found a little frustrating was all the side stories, like Seamus/Willa's. I didn't understand why they needed their own chapter in the third section of the book. I could understand why Freddie, Fiona and Joe each got their own light, but I felt that Seamus/Willa didn't need one and would have been just find being involved in the others. Other than that, I loved the book. It was wonderful.
readinginthegarden's review against another edition
5.0
5/5 stars!
I bought this book purely from a recommendation on Reddit and as soon as I read the synopsis I knew I had to read it. I knew I was going to love this book even before I picked it up. I genuinely feel quite speechless. What a journey!
I really love books with (I hate saying it) a strong female character going against the grain. India being a female doctor in 1900 would not be easy. It reminds me a lot of another romance book by Lisa Kleypas called ‘Hello Stranger’ a female doctor who has to work in the most dangerous parts of London. I highly recommend. I love how even though everyone doubted her but herself and Ella (who I loved as a character and honestly wish she was in the second half more). Having to work twice as hard as any man to be taken seriously. I loved how much she cared for her patients for example; getting contraception for patients even though it meant risking her job, using more modern techniques etc. Learning about the medicine and procedures its so interesting to me!
The romance with Malone was obviously the best part of the book as well. The forbidden romance and being total opposites of background, lifestyle and personality. The yearning and love they have for each other I felt was better towards the end in my opinion. Somewhere in the middle when their relationship had just started I felt she went from having this dream of opening her clinic and saving lives in Whitechapel to as soon as she falls in love with him wanting to just give that all up! I felt she turned into as you say ‘a complete and utter simp’. I felt like shaking her a bit and saying “Don’t forget your own dreams!”
And Freddie…what a villain. I felt he was also one of the best characters in the book he was truly a gruesome character. The jewellery box realisation at the end I nearly collapsed! I even started crying when India finally realised all along the truth.
I have to admit though I didn’t read the first book. I would say you don’t have to read it but some chapters do include characters from the previous series. Most of the time it connects to this book but sometimes it doesn’t and did have to do a cheeky page skim. So it meant that I had to skip like 50 pages overall of characters I didn’t know. But you don’t have to read the first book if you don’t want to. I honestly might read it and read the third book. I’m not sure next but sometime soon in the future.
What a ride this book was though from start to finish. So exciting, dramatic and romantic. It was like if downtown abbey, peaky blinders and ripper street had a baby! It’s a book that will stick with you when reading and even when you have finished. It was honestly amazing I can’t even put it into words how fantastic it is!
I bought this book purely from a recommendation on Reddit and as soon as I read the synopsis I knew I had to read it. I knew I was going to love this book even before I picked it up. I genuinely feel quite speechless. What a journey!
I really love books with (I hate saying it) a strong female character going against the grain. India being a female doctor in 1900 would not be easy. It reminds me a lot of another romance book by Lisa Kleypas called ‘Hello Stranger’ a female doctor who has to work in the most dangerous parts of London. I highly recommend. I love how even though everyone doubted her but herself and Ella (who I loved as a character and honestly wish she was in the second half more). Having to work twice as hard as any man to be taken seriously. I loved how much she cared for her patients for example; getting contraception for patients even though it meant risking her job, using more modern techniques etc. Learning about the medicine and procedures its so interesting to me!
The romance with Malone was obviously the best part of the book as well. The forbidden romance and being total opposites of background, lifestyle and personality. The yearning and love they have for each other I felt was better towards the end in my opinion. Somewhere in the middle when their relationship had just started I felt she went from having this dream of opening her clinic and saving lives in Whitechapel to as soon as she falls in love with him wanting to just give that all up! I felt she turned into as you say ‘a complete and utter simp’. I felt like shaking her a bit and saying “Don’t forget your own dreams!”
And Freddie…what a villain. I felt he was also one of the best characters in the book he was truly a gruesome character. The jewellery box realisation at the end I nearly collapsed! I even started crying when India finally realised all along the truth.
I have to admit though I didn’t read the first book. I would say you don’t have to read it but some chapters do include characters from the previous series. Most of the time it connects to this book but sometimes it doesn’t and did have to do a cheeky page skim. So it meant that I had to skip like 50 pages overall of characters I didn’t know. But you don’t have to read the first book if you don’t want to. I honestly might read it and read the third book. I’m not sure next but sometime soon in the future.
What a ride this book was though from start to finish. So exciting, dramatic and romantic. It was like if downtown abbey, peaky blinders and ripper street had a baby! It’s a book that will stick with you when reading and even when you have finished. It was honestly amazing I can’t even put it into words how fantastic it is!
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
Cliche-ridden? Yes. Improbable coincidences? Yes. Over-the-top drama? Murder, sex, politics, poverty, money, medicine, women's rights, workers' rights, colonialism, revenge, mountain-climbing, Antarctica, Africa, faked deaths (yes, plural), amputations, paraplegics, death by wild animal attack, and doomed lovers reunited? Yes, yes, yes. Was I able to put it down? No. Despite all its faults, I couldn't put the silly thing down. Saga-riffic. This feels like a horribly slippery slope, and before you know it I'll have given up on Good Books and I'll just be reading page-turners and eating bonbons.
This is the sequel to The Tea Rose, and there's a horribly dull page or two spent recapping the first book's equally improbable plot points, but this could be read independently. You just wouldn't have the emotional background on a few of the characters. Also, I'm betting that Donnelly's planning a third book, because she left Seamie and Willa's story hanging, emotionally, just like she left Charlie's story hanging in The Tea Rose. And, God help me, I'll read it.
This is the sequel to The Tea Rose, and there's a horribly dull page or two spent recapping the first book's equally improbable plot points, but this could be read independently. You just wouldn't have the emotional background on a few of the characters. Also, I'm betting that Donnelly's planning a third book, because she left Seamie and Willa's story hanging, emotionally, just like she left Charlie's story hanging in The Tea Rose. And, God help me, I'll read it.
ekpullrich's review against another edition
4.0
I read this for the first time almost exactly 6 years ago, so planned to skim this time. However, Donnelly has a way of capturing my attention for every word, so this behemoth of a novel took me 9 days!
I love Donnelly and I gave this book 5 stars the last time I read it, but I can tell how my tastes have changed in 6 years. There were points when I felt like the plot was stretched tooooo much; there’s just no way all this can happen to one family, right?! So unrealistic. But — that’s what kept it such a page turner. I had to find out what happens to India & Sid, Seamus & Willa, etc.
I do feel like the Seamus and Willa storyline seemed a little out of place with the rest of the novel, but it was cool how it came together in the end. Even though I’ve read the 3rd book of this trilogy, I will have to reread that one too, to remember what happens to these families! They are additive, a guilty pleasure. I couldn’t wait to tuck into bed every night to read!
I love Donnelly and I gave this book 5 stars the last time I read it, but I can tell how my tastes have changed in 6 years. There were points when I felt like the plot was stretched tooooo much; there’s just no way all this can happen to one family, right?! So unrealistic. But — that’s what kept it such a page turner. I had to find out what happens to India & Sid, Seamus & Willa, etc.
I do feel like the Seamus and Willa storyline seemed a little out of place with the rest of the novel, but it was cool how it came together in the end. Even though I’ve read the 3rd book of this trilogy, I will have to reread that one too, to remember what happens to these families! They are additive, a guilty pleasure. I couldn’t wait to tuck into bed every night to read!
miss_moonshine's review against another edition
5.0
I borrowed this from the library when I was younger; mostly because it had a pretty dress on the cover, if I'm honest. I'm glad that it drew me in because I was hooked from the first page. India is an intriguing character even at the beginning, but even more so when she begins to think more in shades of grey than mere black and white. Sid is, in many ways, her perfect match; he is her opposite in almost every way but he has a streak of morality running through him that matches that of India's. Their relationship has a doomed air about it from the start, but as a reader I couldn't allow myself to give up on them and I am glad that I didn't because the end of this book was immensely satisfying and made me want to read the full thing again straight away - despite the fact that it was the early hours of the morning.