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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Switched from audio to print early on, and skipped "A Rule Against Murder" (for now) because I couldn't find a copy!
I liked this more than my previous Gamache, "The Cruelest Month," which was frustratingly boring at times -- though I don't know if that was the audio aspect or the storyline itself.
But there was still much to be desired in "The Brutal Telling." I was excited when Czech characters were introduced, since my partner is a Slavicist and I was looking forward to sharing interesting tidbits with him. Instead we got the unlikely-named Roar (a Norwegian name) and Havoc, no Czech language spoken at all, very little history, and no culture. Not even some, I don't know, roast pork and dumplings in the oven one of the many times Gamache's team comes over to the house to investigate?? It seems like the author chose a random Eastern European country for the hermit to be from and decided she didn't need to illustrate any more deeply.
I'm also noticing more and more how blunt and inelegant Penny's writing style is. There is a lot of "tell, don't show" and people seem to have wild mood swings depending on whether they need to be REALLY MAD or REALLY SUSPICIOUS or REALLY PLEASED in that moment.
Still, I'll continue, because I'm a sucker for a cliffhanger and I *knew* I was going to get one as soon as Olivier was arrested. And let's be real, I don't want to miss out on any sumptuous descriptions of food.
I liked this more than my previous Gamache, "The Cruelest Month," which was frustratingly boring at times -- though I don't know if that was the audio aspect or the storyline itself.
But there was still much to be desired in "The Brutal Telling." I was excited when Czech characters were introduced, since my partner is a Slavicist and I was looking forward to sharing interesting tidbits with him. Instead we got the unlikely-named Roar (a Norwegian name) and Havoc, no Czech language spoken at all, very little history, and no culture. Not even some, I don't know, roast pork and dumplings in the oven one of the many times Gamache's team comes over to the house to investigate?? It seems like the author chose a random Eastern European country for the hermit to be from and decided she didn't need to illustrate any more deeply.
I'm also noticing more and more how blunt and inelegant Penny's writing style is. There is a lot of "tell, don't show" and people seem to have wild mood swings depending on whether they need to be REALLY MAD or REALLY SUSPICIOUS or REALLY PLEASED in that moment.
Still, I'll continue, because I'm a sucker for a cliffhanger and I *knew* I was going to get one as soon as Olivier was arrested. And let's be real, I don't want to miss out on any sumptuous descriptions of food.
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So masterfully done, as always. But I'm not convinced by the ending-- though I'm not sure I'm supposed to be.
I looked up the plot summary for the next book in this series, which is
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm fully immersed into the Three Pines world now and I'm not even a little mad about it.
I will say this... how the hell do people keep getting murdered here?! It's not even a little realistic if I'm being honest. BUT I will also say that the actual murders seem to be realistic to me. None of the books have been really far fetched or unbelievable.
One thing I did like (and dislike) is that this time the main suspect of the case ends up being one of the villagers that we know and love. I hated to think about losing a character that I've grown fond of, but at some point it's inevitable that something will happen with one of them.
Excited to continue this series!
I will say this... how the hell do people keep getting murdered here?! It's not even a little realistic if I'm being honest. BUT I will also say that the actual murders seem to be realistic to me. None of the books have been really far fetched or unbelievable.
One thing I did like (and dislike) is that this time the main suspect of the case ends up being one of the villagers that we know and love. I hated to think about losing a character that I've grown fond of, but at some point it's inevitable that something will happen with one of them.
Excited to continue this series!
This has been my favorite in the series. I love the moral complexity here.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes