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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
great book if you want to enjoyably not know what the fuck is going on for the initial 90% of it - 4.5 stars
Ciekawy pomysł i przez pierwsze 3/4 książki czuć mocno taki klimat tajemnicy, ale pod koniec gdzieś się to gubi, cała intryga wydaje się zbyt prosta. Zakończenie jest jak dla mnie zbyt szczęśliwe… ale ogólnie bardzo dobra książka, tylko raczej nie moja.
I was extremely sceptical of this book club selection, it did not sound like something I was going to like and I put off reading it for much too long. I DON’T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING! This book was like a fairy tale for grown ups. I must admit it took me until about 1/4 of the way through to really get into the story. It took time to weave the individual stories of each character at the beginning but once I got into it I was hooked! Each “chapter” is written from alternating character perspectives but you don’t get to see how closely linked everyone is until very near the end of the story. Part mystery, part fantasy, 100% amazing! 5 stars and would highly recommend!!!!!!!
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
Beautiful writing. It was a bit slow in the beginning, but I liked the themes explored in this book.
This is such a beautifully written book.
You are immediately drawn into a world of storytelling centred on the River Thames and its nearby dwellers. The part folklore, part fantasy, part mystery is told through the lives of the characters whose existence are all dependent on the river in different ways but linked together by an event, and in particular a person, that we are introduced to right at the beginning.
The interweaving of the naivety based mysteries, appropriate to the time that the book is set in, with elements of the supernatural is carried out with elegance. The story simply works. Diane Setterfield does an amazing job guiding us through the mystery of the child that was dead and then wasn’t. In a world where story telling is held with high esteem, Diane is head and shoulders above anyone else.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for a review copy.
You are immediately drawn into a world of storytelling centred on the River Thames and its nearby dwellers. The part folklore, part fantasy, part mystery is told through the lives of the characters whose existence are all dependent on the river in different ways but linked together by an event, and in particular a person, that we are introduced to right at the beginning.
The interweaving of the naivety based mysteries, appropriate to the time that the book is set in, with elements of the supernatural is carried out with elegance. The story simply works. Diane Setterfield does an amazing job guiding us through the mystery of the child that was dead and then wasn’t. In a world where story telling is held with high esteem, Diane is head and shoulders above anyone else.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for a review copy.
Absolutely loved this book. The perfect combination of whimsy and mystery. I loved the lengthy detail the author went into describing scenes. My favorite was Mr Armstrong and his connection with his beloved pigs. Pigs really are that amazing. I loved the entire tale.
I would legit read Setterfield’s grocery list. Seriously, though, Setterfield’s prose is as strong and elegant as the Thames that she so eloquently weaves into her story.
“Once Upon a River” combines mystery, storytelling, science, and the power of folklore.
“Once Upon a River” combines mystery, storytelling, science, and the power of folklore.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Yes
A young girl is found drowned in the river. All believe her dead. Miraculously, she revives. Several individuals lay claim to her. A cast of interesting characters rounds out the book.
I could not get enough of this book in the beginning and middle-- its mystery, character development, etc. I could hardly bear to set it down and conduct the daily requirements of a normal life. It felt well on its way to a 5 star rating.
The resolution dampened for me a bit-- too cliche maybe. Too many pieces fitting perfectly together, every "good" character essentially being made whole. All the bad guys dying. And the character development faltered a bit. The likable characters were too wonderful. Were there any faults? Even more extreme, the bad characters were too evil and one-sided with zero redeeming qualities. The super villain even reveled in his evilness (delightfully recounting about another character: "He's got my blood in his veins and my wickedness in his heart.") Maybe a few truly evil people exist in this world, but I typically find there is more nuance involved.
Still, I so greatly enjoyed this book during the first part that I'll have to go with 7 or 8 out of 10. So 4 stars it is.
I could not get enough of this book in the beginning and middle-- its mystery, character development, etc. I could hardly bear to set it down and conduct the daily requirements of a normal life. It felt well on its way to a 5 star rating.
The resolution dampened for me a bit-- too cliche maybe. Too many pieces fitting perfectly together, every "good" character essentially being made whole. All the bad guys dying. And the character development faltered a bit. The likable characters were too wonderful. Were there any faults? Even more extreme, the bad characters were too evil and one-sided with zero redeeming qualities. The super villain even reveled in his evilness (delightfully recounting about another character: "He's got my blood in his veins and my wickedness in his heart.") Maybe a few truly evil people exist in this world, but I typically find there is more nuance involved.
Still, I so greatly enjoyed this book during the first part that I'll have to go with 7 or 8 out of 10. So 4 stars it is.