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isabelrstev's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
4.5
kyliemaslen's review against another edition
3.0
enjoyable novel composed of interlinked short stories but just failed to hook me in
loubraryoftheforest's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Complete fluke I started reading this as we were getting to leave our holiday cottage ( it was on their shelf) and I picked it up to see what it was about. Read it on the way home in the car!
Set in Scotland by a rainy windswept loch, the inhabitants of the run down wooden cabins that surround it are trying to enjoy their time away, but with not much success. Bored toddlers, angry teenagers, and cooped up frustrated adults do not a happy holiday make, and as we hear from each of the holiday maker in turn, we learn more about their individual situations, and the collective annoyance at one cabins excessive noise that unites them.
A real little gem, atmospheric and tension building, with a few twists. Very enjoyable little read.
Set in Scotland by a rainy windswept loch, the inhabitants of the run down wooden cabins that surround it are trying to enjoy their time away, but with not much success. Bored toddlers, angry teenagers, and cooped up frustrated adults do not a happy holiday make, and as we hear from each of the holiday maker in turn, we learn more about their individual situations, and the collective annoyance at one cabins excessive noise that unites them.
A real little gem, atmospheric and tension building, with a few twists. Very enjoyable little read.
nahanarts's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
rae_swabey's review against another edition
3.0
This was an absorbing, easy to read book with some great psychological insights and a real sense of place. And there were both laugh-out-loud and genuinely touching moments.
But I was left slightly underwhelmed as not much happened, and as soon as I felt as though I was getting under the skin of a character, they were abandoned for the next one. And then at the end, when dramatic events do start happening, we see them through the eyes of a character I didn’t feel I’d had much of a chance to connect with. Overall I found it a little disjointed.
But it is enjoyable and Moss really shows off the range of characters she’s able to write in a totally believable way. I think I would just have preferred fewer of them and a deeper dive into each one.
But I was left slightly underwhelmed as not much happened, and as soon as I felt as though I was getting under the skin of a character, they were abandoned for the next one. And then at the end, when dramatic events do start happening, we see them through the eyes of a character I didn’t feel I’d had much of a chance to connect with. Overall I found it a little disjointed.
But it is enjoyable and Moss really shows off the range of characters she’s able to write in a totally believable way. I think I would just have preferred fewer of them and a deeper dive into each one.
irritablepowell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sarah Moss gets right inside the head of her characters. Although the subject matter is dark, her writing is laced with sly humour. This is a small, perfectly crafted gem.
motherofladybirds's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the sense of suspense throughout and the many different viewpoints. The landscape was definitely a character. Leaving the main event so late in the tale was brave, but I think the author pulled it off. Quite thought provoking about our own prejudices and judgements of others. It was satisfying that so many people proved useful in a crisis despite what others may have thought of them.
mcrowell's review against another edition
Started off interesting but became sexual
cecilialau_'s review against another edition
4.25
What a read. The writing is phenomenal. It’s so good and done with such intent and skill. I can’t wait to read The Fell now.
Anyway, the different voices are so distinctive and you almost want to know more even when you get another perspective within the same family/cabin, but you’re also not quite sure what day of the holiday it is for all of them as the rain is just constant and torrential…
Which works and bc of it there’s angst, there’s dread building. You sense it’ll all culminate in sth or other as you read more and get to hear the different perspectives. It’s very good.
Lola was an actual psychopath imo. I thought from her chapter that maybe she “just” had tendencies but no. I believe she started the fire whether that’s only implied or to some it might be obvious but yeah, that’s how I read it. F**king hell…
Oh, and there was only one story I wasn’t enjoying too much which was the woman contemplating how to spend an hour without her kids. Which is a great concept for sure, I just found it too much after a while of no decisions. Idk. I get it though, and it was done exactly as it needed to be, don’t get me wrong.
Anyway, the different voices are so distinctive and you almost want to know more even when you get another perspective within the same family/cabin, but you’re also not quite sure what day of the holiday it is for all of them as the rain is just constant and torrential…
Which works and bc of it there’s angst, there’s dread building. You sense it’ll all culminate in sth or other as you read more and get to hear the different perspectives. It’s very good.
Oh, and there was only one story I wasn’t enjoying too much which was the woman contemplating how to spend an hour without her kids. Which is a great concept for sure, I just found it too much after a while of no decisions. Idk. I get it though, and it was done exactly as it needed to be, don’t get me wrong.