4.15k reviews for:

Birnam Wood

Eleanor Catton

3.91 AVERAGE

sundaereads's review

4.0

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I can't say much about this without spoilers and I really don't want to spoil it, because it didn't go where I thought it would. But, wow, I really enjoyed the writing. I think this one will stick with me.

tawallah's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

three_martini_lunch's review

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I went into this blind, other than knowing that it was ecological in theme and was categorized as a "thriller." The first 2/3 of the book are pretty loose on thrills, though still compelling. That all changes in the final 100 pages or so when the rubber band has been pulled back too far and snaps quickly.

I'm seeing in some of the reviews below that people are complaining about "the characters go on long-winded expositions" and the book "often tells rather than shows." Not to criticize these complaints, but my suspicion is that many of these folks have never hung around with socialist groups/youth movements; as someone who is adjacent to those spaces, I can assure you that "telling not showing" and "long diatribes" are absolutely par for the course, and this book expertly recreates them. It focuses a lot on power dynamics, and I thought captured those intricacies superbly.

Overall I found it to be a gripping read that was much much darker than expected.

zvermilya11's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

melissafhaley's review

3.0

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Would have been 4 stars for really making me cringe about billionaires and eco-destruction, except for the one very long argument, the very long sentences, and the unsatisfying ending.

lelathecat's review

4.0

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Started off a bit boring but when it got going it really got going. Couldn't put it down for the last 1/3 of the book. J absolutely loved to hate a certain character... and loved to root for justice and righteousness even while feeling cynical about the likely outcomes. Reminds me of current events almost. Nice and dark at the end. I did feel like some passages were drawn out way too long or doing a lot of telling not showing, but this also may have been intentional to represent the mindset of the characters. Also had a weird amount of listing in some sections, but w/e.

justnei's review against another edition

5.0

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

niedobs's review

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

cdbellomy's review

4.5

dark informative inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

durablepigments's review

4.75

challenging dark funny tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes