Reviews

A wistful, funny, tragic look back at a crumbling aristocratic family and a lost era that's both deeply readable and thematically challenging. I feel like there's still so much to unpack with this! I especially enjoyed the Oxford-set sections, the sharp dialogue, and the society drama

gadicohen93's review against another edition

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4.0

With all of its flaws, this book's managed to worm its way into my heart. I read 95% of it on a 9-hour flight, with some significant chunks missing due to meals/sleep/walking around. I felt the style similar to Wuthering Heights, now that I think about it--reflecting back years later on past tragedies, removed from them, from their characters, but not from their settings, and in the darkness of the English countryside no less.

I liked Charles a lot as a protagonist. I trusted him, even though his sexuality confused me, and I had no idea why he liked Sebastian. Maybe that's the reason the book failed to totally entrance me until about halfway through. I don't know what happened to make me like it so much toward the end--maybe a shift in style, or the decline of Sebastian. I don't know. I just know, though, that the rest of the book was totally awesome and hilarious at times and insightful and others.

I'm warning, though, of a long, slow beginning.

nataliejglasper's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

leya05's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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