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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
An absorbing read that, despite being chunky (500 pages), I managed to get through quite quickly (I finished the last 150 pages during a two-hour flight).
The underlying mystery of the book - how a child who appeared dead could come back to life and who that child is - slowly unfolds. But, the real joy of the book is the characters and how they interact. All of them, in their own ways, are at turns vulnerable and strong.
I watched the TV adaption of the 13th tale a few years ago and I regret that now. I wished I had read the book as I think I would have enjoyed it more. Mind you, the TV adaption did have Olivia Coleman (post Broadchurch but way before Oscar) and Vanessa Redgrave. So, the adaption was probably worth it for those two alone!
I might now investigate Bellman & Black (Setterfield's second novel) to see what that's about as, I think anyway, there hasn't been a TV adaptation of that!
The underlying mystery of the book - how a child who appeared dead could come back to life and who that child is - slowly unfolds. But, the real joy of the book is the characters and how they interact. All of them, in their own ways, are at turns vulnerable and strong.
I watched the TV adaption of the 13th tale a few years ago and I regret that now. I wished I had read the book as I think I would have enjoyed it more. Mind you, the TV adaption did have Olivia Coleman (post Broadchurch but way before Oscar) and Vanessa Redgrave. So, the adaption was probably worth it for those two alone!
I might now investigate Bellman & Black (Setterfield's second novel) to see what that's about as, I think anyway, there hasn't been a TV adaptation of that!
I absolutely loved this book. Such a great story. All of the characters slowly come to life and join up in this wonderful story.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is such a wonderful story. You get to follow all these people, all of which are very different characters but that doesn't stop you from becoming friends with them, and watch their stories and fates tangle together. It feels so much like how people interact and intermingle in real life. I also love how you never really know, there are natural explanations for everything that happens but you can just as easily choose to believe in the whimsical alternatives. The folklore vibes of the storytelling are so great, the whole book feels like an anecdote you'd hear from an old relative, and it's all such a pleasant time. Even though the story handles a myriad of different, heavy topics, it still leaves you with a warm and cosy feeling. I've never read anything like Once Upon a River, and I couldn't recommend it enough!
This one hovers somewhere between three and four stars for me. It started out really interesting and I was excited to keep reading. There were definitely some parts in the middle of the story where I felt like the plot was dragging a little but the conclusion absolutely flew by and I was really immersed for the last 100-150 pages. I gave it four stars because ultimately I would consider reading another book by this author.
2.5
Long and a meandering, like a river I guess. Was mildly entertaining.
Long and a meandering, like a river I guess. Was mildly entertaining.
DNF at 30% because I literally don't know what is going on, and it's pretty boring.
I was reading this on audio and will try reading it physically to see if there's a difference in experience.
I was reading this on audio and will try reading it physically to see if there's a difference in experience.
Nie moje klimaty, ale obiektywnie świetna.
Obcinam jednak ocenę za to, że dziecko zrodzone z gwałtu, mimo miłości i troski obojga rodziców, ze względu na „zepsutą krew” krążącą w jego żyłach, odegrało rolę czarnego charakteru. Przykre i niesmaczne.
Na swoje nieszczęście wychowałam się na kryminałach, więc bardzo trudno mnie zaskoczyć. W tym wypadku nie było inaczej i ułożyłam całą układankę po przeczytaniu 1/3 opowieści, co trochę zepsuło mi radość z odsłaniania kolejnych warstw historii.
Wątek rasizmu w obliczu ostatnich wydarzeń jeszcze żywiej uświadamia nas, jakie to wszystko durne, krzywdzące i niesprawiedliwe.
Obcinam jednak ocenę za to, że dziecko zrodzone z gwałtu, mimo miłości i troski obojga rodziców, ze względu na „zepsutą krew” krążącą w jego żyłach, odegrało rolę czarnego charakteru. Przykre i niesmaczne.
Na swoje nieszczęście wychowałam się na kryminałach, więc bardzo trudno mnie zaskoczyć. W tym wypadku nie było inaczej i ułożyłam całą układankę po przeczytaniu 1/3 opowieści, co trochę zepsuło mi radość z odsłaniania kolejnych warstw historii.
Wątek rasizmu w obliczu ostatnich wydarzeń jeszcze żywiej uświadamia nas, jakie to wszystko durne, krzywdzące i niesprawiedliwe.