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isabellew27's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Well-written but way too much detailed character development and too little plot development/action.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Classism, Toxic friendship, and Drug use
corvidcorvid's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Slow to get going, at many times long-winded, sometimes preachy, often condescending of the characters, who were practically caricatures, but insightful. I didn't care for the ending, so I'm just going to imagine it differently.
The creepiest aspect of the book, imo, was the infiltration of privacy with technology that's nearly impossible for laypeople to recognize. I gasped and physically cringed whenRobert revealed how he knew who Mira was, and when he usurped Mira's phone. Mira, and the rest of Birnam Wood, had NO questions at him having deposited the initial $10k directly into her bank account to demonstrate that he was legit. That was the linchpin for me, where I want to believe I would have nope'd out.
The creepiest aspect of the book, imo, was the infiltration of privacy with technology that's nearly impossible for laypeople to recognize. I gasped and physically cringed when
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail
deedireads's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
WHEW.
This was on my TBR all year, and I finally squeezed it in as my last book of 2023. What a powerful (but very heavy) note to end on, kind of like 2023 itself. The story is about a group of activists who call themselves Birnam Wood, planting vegetables in random plots of land, and a billionaire whose interests briefly intersect with theirs, to devastating effect. I should have thought a little bit harder about Macbeth as I read this one, and maybe it wouldn’t have walloped me as hard in the gut as it did; truly, I have only myself to blame there, lol.
I can’t quite say that I ENJOYED it — it’s tense and uncomfortable and heavy — but it’s also unputdownable, almost like a thriller in the second half. Nearly every character is morally gray, which keeps things interesting and gives it depth. There’s no denying that Eleanor Catton is an incredible talent. The Luminaries has been staring at me from my shelf for months, and I think it’s finally time for me to make it a priority!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Grief and Drug use
beccaand's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, and Death
Moderate: Gaslighting, Drug use, and Gun violence
Minor: Vomit
rei_reads's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence, Car accident, and Murder
fkshg8465's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I had to restart this book several times because I had trouble getting into it initially. So glad I kept at it. It kept coming up on must read lists, and I’m so so glad it did. Everything about the book - the setting, the characters, the plot, the motivations, the themes - all of it was unexpected. Even though I disliked every single character, I really liked this book. That is a rarity for me.
My only wish was that it had been broken down into more chapters. Because there were only three chapters, it was hard for me to break up my reading in between daily activities.
This is a book I’d like to see taught in AP English and college classes across the US. Is a very well written allegory for the state of today’s world. Starts out slow, but comes to a screeching halt at the end because it speeds up so fast by then that it’s the only way out can end.
My only wish was that it had been broken down into more chapters. Because there were only three chapters, it was hard for me to break up my reading in between daily activities.
This is a book I’d like to see taught in AP English and college classes across the US. Is a very well written allegory for the state of today’s world. Starts out slow, but comes to a screeching halt at the end because it speeds up so fast by then that it’s the only way out can end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Murder, Car accident, Gun violence, Violence, Mass/school shootings, and Grief
cheyison's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Vomit
gmaz's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall, I did not like this book. I guess I'm a weirdo, because reading other reviews, people did not like the beginning, saying it started out too slow. I very much enjoyed the beginning, and I did not like part 3. The first part, especially, reminded me of Jonathon Franzen or Don Dellilo, psychological character studies, and I wanted more of that. I went into the book not realizing the "thriller" category it was in.
I could not get over Owen Darvish's death by Shelley. It didn't make any sense to me, except to set up all the thriller aspects in part 3. It seemed gratuitous. Sure, it shows Lemoine is a bad person, but that's not the only way. Why do we have to murder people to have be shown people are bad? Murder seems like such a cheap and lazy solution. I wanted the deep psychological aspects of character development to continue, people playing mind games or social tactics to get ahead. I really wanted to know who was going to win—Lemoine, or Birnam Wood, or the Darvishes? In the end, nobody won. We all lost.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Violence
jacs63's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I never vibed with Catton's Booker prize winner 'The Luminaries' but I enjoyed 'Birnam Wood'.
Its not a 5 star read for me, but its up there.
It's well written and a page turner.
The first 2/3's of the book do drag a bit, as many have complained about, but I guess its how she sets up the plot and describes the characters.
Then all hell breaks loose in the last third, until a bit of a damp squib of an ending. I was feeling like it all just ran out of steam a bit.
Enjoyable, but was left wanting more.
Its not a 5 star read for me, but its up there.
It's well written and a page turner.
The first 2/3's of the book do drag a bit, as many have complained about, but I guess its how she sets up the plot and describes the characters.
Then all hell breaks loose in the last third, until a bit of a damp squib of an ending. I was feeling like it all just ran out of steam a bit.
Enjoyable, but was left wanting more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Gun violence, Genocide, Medical content, Car accident, and Violence
jakobmarleymommy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder