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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Listened as an audio book. Very well narrated. Slow and melodic.
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
Loved the writing. Loved the plot. Loved the setting.
3.5 - different scenery and I thought the writing was nice.
emotional
reflective
sad
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
long listed Booker prize 2023 ,I loved the circular nature of this book which was effectively a book about a famous writer staying for a while and writing a book the perfect symmetry really appealed to me .I didn’t know much about Somerset Maugham and have not read his works but he appears in this book to be a larger than life character
The novel was very firmly set in Penang a place I had visited uk the past ,this allowed me to visualise the setting clearly .I suspect that even with no prior knowledge the reader will find it easy to imagine the setting
The time that the novel was set allowed you to imagine the dress and life style clearly the manners being different from now .The issue of homosexuality and the fact that this was illegal at the time we are looking at the time when famous authors were sent to prison for their sexuality and to be exposed was potentially disastrous
The characters were well described and their relationships and behaviours felt real and relatable
The author has a lovely glowing prose style making the novel a relaxing enjoyable read
I read an early copy on NetGalley uk the book is published on the uk by Cannongate on 18th may 2023
This review will be published on Goodreads NetGalley uk and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.Wordpress.Com
The novel was very firmly set in Penang a place I had visited uk the past ,this allowed me to visualise the setting clearly .I suspect that even with no prior knowledge the reader will find it easy to imagine the setting
The time that the novel was set allowed you to imagine the dress and life style clearly the manners being different from now .The issue of homosexuality and the fact that this was illegal at the time we are looking at the time when famous authors were sent to prison for their sexuality and to be exposed was potentially disastrous
The characters were well described and their relationships and behaviours felt real and relatable
The author has a lovely glowing prose style making the novel a relaxing enjoyable read
I read an early copy on NetGalley uk the book is published on the uk by Cannongate on 18th may 2023
This review will be published on Goodreads NetGalley uk and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.Wordpress.Com
Постоянно си напомнях да нямам твърде големи очаквания към книгата, защото да четеш роман за Моъм, не е като да четеш роман от Моъм, но тази книга е истинска прелест, а стилът на Тан Туан Ен е омагьосваш почти колкото този на Моъм.
Като си събера мислите ще напиша по-подробно ревю, книгата просто го заслужава.
Като си събера мислите ще напиша по-подробно ревю, книгата просто го заслужава.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Started off slow but I got really into the plot from part 2. I love the setting of Penang, and specifically, the bits featuring the house of doors. I think this and plotting are two really strong points of Tan Twan Eng as an author (I have a big soft spot for him bc of the Malaysian connection). I really really enjoyed the Garden of Evening Mists and compared to that one, I think this book is weaker, especially when it comes to dialogue, I found some of it felt a little too manufactured and not actually stuff that people would say. I think the cast of characters were also generally less intriguing and the plot points felt more random and less organic. Still though, the plot was great and I had a fun time reading, finishing the last 200 pages on my flight back to KL from Bali. Great vibes for this travel day specifically. I feel conflicted about 3.75. It both feels like underrating and overrating the book, it was generally so strong just the manufactured-ness dragged it down a lot.
I read The Razors Edge in preparation, which I enjoyed, and gonna read the Casuarina Tree because of this book :)
I read The Razors Edge in preparation, which I enjoyed, and gonna read the Casuarina Tree because of this book :)
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes