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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Dementia
Minor: Self harm, Violence, Abortion, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Nice little story, a bit lackluster at times. I really appreciated the style of writing.
The Cleaner of Chartres, Salley Vickers
Another wonderful writer. Another lovely book. This eloquent novel unfolds slowly to tell the story of Agnes, who appeared one day in the town of Chartres France and who slowly built a life for herself. Interspersed with her present day life is the story of her abandonment as a baby, and the years that shaped her while she was raised by nuns. There was much sadness in her past that has come back to haunt her as she carefully and quietly lives her new life. You feel for Agnes and the complications she is facing. Touching and insightful, and full of a great cast of characters, this is as good a read as her other novel, Miss Garnet's Angel. I'm lucky to have stumbled upon new novels by writers I enjoy and whose work I appreciate and admire. It feels like a special treat to stumble upon writers like Salley Vickers and Maggie O'Farrell.
Another wonderful writer. Another lovely book. This eloquent novel unfolds slowly to tell the story of Agnes, who appeared one day in the town of Chartres France and who slowly built a life for herself. Interspersed with her present day life is the story of her abandonment as a baby, and the years that shaped her while she was raised by nuns. There was much sadness in her past that has come back to haunt her as she carefully and quietly lives her new life. You feel for Agnes and the complications she is facing. Touching and insightful, and full of a great cast of characters, this is as good a read as her other novel, Miss Garnet's Angel. I'm lucky to have stumbled upon new novels by writers I enjoy and whose work I appreciate and admire. It feels like a special treat to stumble upon writers like Salley Vickers and Maggie O'Farrell.
An enjoyable read, my full review here at Word by Word.
Salley Vickers’ The Cleaner of Chartres is a lovely, beautifully written book about a woman who’s past follows her for more than twenty years. Agnès Morel had the deck stacked against since the day she was born. She was found in the woods near Évreux, France. The man who found her took her to the nuns at the local convent because that was supposed to be the right thing to do. The nuns weren’t horrible. Well, all but one of them weren’t horrible. The one who was convinced Agnès that she was intellectually impaired. Years later, Agnès makes a living in Chartres cleaning at the cathedral and peoples’ homes, posing for a painter, and babysitting...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
Around The Year in 52 Books 2020: A book set in a rural or sparsely populated area.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes