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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Beautiful and creepy, definitely a page turner and very enjoyable, down to the last page. Would love to read more from this author.
dark
tense
I love hardbacks when they have exquisite covers and this book just sat on the shelf saying ‘buy me, you know you want to’. When the inner voice talks, especially when books are involved, you just have to listen. Did it matter that it was full price or that I had already a M25 size tailback in my TBR pile, I bought it.
For a few weeks it sat in the pile whilst I read other books, but the cover soon drew me in again. You know the adage about a good cover doth not a good book make? Well in this case they got it right. I usually shy away from books billed as ‘literary’ as they are usually less substance and more emotion. This however has a great story entwined between the gorgeous language used by the author.
There’s a touch of the Collector woven into the story, for those who studied it for A Level, don’t look away. A man obsessed by beauty and curious objects haunts the story. The backdrop of the Great Exhibition at Hyde Park is compelling as is the quest of a group of pre-Raphaelites artists to get their works exhibited at the Royal Academy. Throw in a young woman who desperately wants to paint, a touch of literary porn and you have a story worth reading.
The characters are excellently formed from the sinister Silas through the beautiful Iris. The author makes us love and loath the characters in equal does, building in a realistic taste of a seedy underbelly of London.
The ending is both tragic and joyful, yet the journey is where the book happens. I guess that’s the same with all literary works. This is a first class book and one I’m so happy I listened to the voice inside me.
For a few weeks it sat in the pile whilst I read other books, but the cover soon drew me in again. You know the adage about a good cover doth not a good book make? Well in this case they got it right. I usually shy away from books billed as ‘literary’ as they are usually less substance and more emotion. This however has a great story entwined between the gorgeous language used by the author.
There’s a touch of the Collector woven into the story, for those who studied it for A Level, don’t look away. A man obsessed by beauty and curious objects haunts the story. The backdrop of the Great Exhibition at Hyde Park is compelling as is the quest of a group of pre-Raphaelites artists to get their works exhibited at the Royal Academy. Throw in a young woman who desperately wants to paint, a touch of literary porn and you have a story worth reading.
The characters are excellently formed from the sinister Silas through the beautiful Iris. The author makes us love and loath the characters in equal does, building in a realistic taste of a seedy underbelly of London.
The ending is both tragic and joyful, yet the journey is where the book happens. I guess that’s the same with all literary works. This is a first class book and one I’m so happy I listened to the voice inside me.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Doll Factory is so creepy and intense that some people will need trigger warnings. Given that the main villain is a crazy taxidermist, it's not surprising that dead animals played a part in the story. I did, however, find it hard to read the depictions of animal and human torture. So much so that it made me disconnect with the book and want to put it down.
The writing was really good, and the plot was definitely interesting, but it just wasn't something I enjoyed reading. I loved the time period and usually can appreciate dark themes, but this just seemed a little far out there for me.
The writing was really good, and the plot was definitely interesting, but it just wasn't something I enjoyed reading. I loved the time period and usually can appreciate dark themes, but this just seemed a little far out there for me.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I could give this more stars, I would. I listened to the audiobook and it was perfection. *tipping my hat to the narrator* This book enveloped me wholly and completely. The sisters, Rose and Iris, working at a little shop painting the faces on dolls for the shop owner, who abuses them. Iris, a dreams of freedom but fears she is trapped--a victim of her circumstances. She and her sister both have a slight disfigurement, so they believe they don't have any prospects.
There is a side character named Albie, a street urchin who lives with his sister in a brothel (a rookery/slum)
A man named Silas who is a taxidermist--fascinated with the macabre, oddities...and women. He's very lonely.
And finally, two artists who take a fancy with one of the sisters.
All of these characters are ALIVE on the page. Their paths intersect and a dark, insidious tale begins to unravel.
A story of loneliness, heartbreak, passion, desire, and obsession.
I could NOT LOVE IT MORE. A new favorite book and author.
For readers who enjoy:
-Short chapters
-Character-driven storytelling
-Victorian-era historical fiction
-Sisterhood
-Artists
-The mind of a killer/stalker
-Romance
-Obsession
CW-The animal cruelty is a lot because of the fascination and nature of the character, Silas who is a taxidermist and collects oddities/specimens. Be warned
There is a side character named Albie, a street urchin who lives with his sister in a brothel (a rookery/slum)
A man named Silas who is a taxidermist--fascinated with the macabre, oddities...and women. He's very lonely.
And finally, two artists who take a fancy with one of the sisters.
All of these characters are ALIVE on the page. Their paths intersect and a dark, insidious tale begins to unravel.
A story of loneliness, heartbreak, passion, desire, and obsession.
I could NOT LOVE IT MORE. A new favorite book and author.
For readers who enjoy:
-Short chapters
-Character-driven storytelling
-Victorian-era historical fiction
-Sisterhood
-Artists
-The mind of a killer/stalker
-Romance
-Obsession
CW-The animal cruelty is a lot because of the fascination and nature of the character, Silas who is a taxidermist and collects oddities/specimens. Be warned
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix