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lblythes's review
5.0
Soft and terrible. A beautifully written capture of the world I know very well.
samfrederixx's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
syafiqha's review
3.0
The storyline was basic & simple but i enjoy it and has no problem with it.
Love the way author writing the mystery scenes and horror scene REALLY got me!
English quite hard for me since english not my first language. Not for beginner.
It is an exciting story but quite slow and the ending was just okay for me.
Love the way author writing the mystery scenes and horror scene REALLY got me!
English quite hard for me since english not my first language. Not for beginner.
It is an exciting story but quite slow and the ending was just okay for me.
carkxy's review
4.0
"for what is a ceramicist if not tactile? who is to tell her that she will not learn the past through touch?"
i rarely pick out quotes from books i read but once i came across this quote, i immediately knew that this was something i had to include in my review. a story of secrets, a fight between the past and present, practicality and ignorance, 'the two houses' by fran cooper is a story deeply layered with life.
in the beginning, i found the story to be extremely dull. the first 50 pages moved really slowly and everything felt like a drag. i nearly gave up on reading the rest of the book but thank goodness for my stubborn disposition that pushed me to continue. the first part left a terrible first impression but don't give up! from page 60 onwards, things get more intense and interesting. we move from our two main characters jay and simon to the rest of the folks in town.
fran cooper has done a good job in drafting up her characters; every person has a story and secret of their own and eventually, their individual stories intertwine together, simultaneously unravelling the secret behind the two houses. this part is especially well done, there is barely any confusion amidst all of this action and the ending is particularly satisfying whereby all of the characters receive closure. i am fond of all the characters except the main character jay whose bull-headed personality ticks me off at times. however, i cannot complain for that aspect of her personality is a necessary evil, one that is needed to drive the story forward.
i'm deeply impressed with how this story has turned out and although the opening could have been executed better, it has still greatly surpassed my initial expectations. it's a pity how not a lot of people know of this story, i definitely recommend 'the two houses' to anyone who is interested in mysteries, quiet towns and different stories intertwining into one.
carmen's tldr review:
entertainment value: 4/5
story: 4/5
characters: 4/5
price: definitely worth the price
difficulty (language): 4/5 author uses a lot of bombastic vocabulary and native slang so beginner readers may want to save this book for a later time!
chances of re-reading: 50%
ending: 5/5
presentation/editing: 3/5 some commas and punctuation marks were missing and that irked me
audience: for teens and above
i rarely pick out quotes from books i read but once i came across this quote, i immediately knew that this was something i had to include in my review. a story of secrets, a fight between the past and present, practicality and ignorance, 'the two houses' by fran cooper is a story deeply layered with life.
in the beginning, i found the story to be extremely dull. the first 50 pages moved really slowly and everything felt like a drag. i nearly gave up on reading the rest of the book but thank goodness for my stubborn disposition that pushed me to continue. the first part left a terrible first impression but don't give up! from page 60 onwards, things get more intense and interesting. we move from our two main characters jay and simon to the rest of the folks in town.
fran cooper has done a good job in drafting up her characters; every person has a story and secret of their own and eventually, their individual stories intertwine together, simultaneously unravelling the secret behind the two houses. this part is especially well done, there is barely any confusion amidst all of this action and the ending is particularly satisfying whereby all of the characters receive closure. i am fond of all the characters except the main character jay whose bull-headed personality ticks me off at times. however, i cannot complain for that aspect of her personality is a necessary evil, one that is needed to drive the story forward.
i'm deeply impressed with how this story has turned out and although the opening could have been executed better, it has still greatly surpassed my initial expectations. it's a pity how not a lot of people know of this story, i definitely recommend 'the two houses' to anyone who is interested in mysteries, quiet towns and different stories intertwining into one.
carmen's tldr review:
entertainment value: 4/5
story: 4/5
characters: 4/5
price: definitely worth the price
difficulty (language): 4/5 author uses a lot of bombastic vocabulary and native slang so beginner readers may want to save this book for a later time!
chances of re-reading: 50%
ending: 5/5
presentation/editing: 3/5 some commas and punctuation marks were missing and that irked me
audience: for teens and above
lollmcc's review
4.0
I read These Dividing Walls as a proof and absolutely loved it. I jumped at the chance to read and review Fran’s second book. These Dividing Walls is set during a searingly hot summer in Paris which fanned the fires of lust and political turmoil.
The Two Houses, in contrast, is set in the rain soaked and flooded Yorkshire Moors. The Two Houses are desolate and decrepit until Jay and Simon fall in love with them and set about making renovations for their new holiday home. Dark stories and feelings about the Two Houses soon come to light and as Jay investigates and Simon carries out his renovations, secrets and lies unfold. Jay and Simon are not wanted in the village. The locals want their dark history to remain forgotten and hidden. Will everyone survive the truth being revealed?
I love the way Fran writes, I love the way she uses the weather as a way to enhance the story and as a way to portray the emotions of the characters, from the burning sun of Paris to the waterlogged moors of Yorkshire. In some ways it reminds me of Wuthering Heights and the way Bronte used food and the weather symbolically. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
The Two Houses, in contrast, is set in the rain soaked and flooded Yorkshire Moors. The Two Houses are desolate and decrepit until Jay and Simon fall in love with them and set about making renovations for their new holiday home. Dark stories and feelings about the Two Houses soon come to light and as Jay investigates and Simon carries out his renovations, secrets and lies unfold. Jay and Simon are not wanted in the village. The locals want their dark history to remain forgotten and hidden. Will everyone survive the truth being revealed?
I love the way Fran writes, I love the way she uses the weather as a way to enhance the story and as a way to portray the emotions of the characters, from the burning sun of Paris to the waterlogged moors of Yorkshire. In some ways it reminds me of Wuthering Heights and the way Bronte used food and the weather symbolically. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
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