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candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
4.0
As a kid I preferred stuffed animals to dolls, but with "The Dollmaker," I see dolls as individual works of art. So does Andrew Garvie, a little person who is a gifted maker of dolls, and a maven of doll history. He has an epistolary relationship with another doll aficionado names Bramber (wonderful name!) who seems to be held in a mental health facility. She shares with him stories written by Ewa Chaplin, a dollmaker and artist who escaped to London during WWII. Her stories are strange and intriguing with elements that carry from tale to tale. Ewa's stories are brilliantly realized.
Of course, you know that Andrew will head to Cornwall to rescue Bramber, such are the fairy tale elements of "The Dollmaker." The story does not quite go as expected and their possible romance may not happen, but the adventure is the journey.
I was more taken with this novel than I ever imagined when I requested to review it. It goes on too long, that's my main criticism, maybe one less Ewa Chaplin story, jewels that they are. Andrew's journey is reason enough to read the book, and there are plenty of odd elements to pique the reader's imagination.
Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
Of course, you know that Andrew will head to Cornwall to rescue Bramber, such are the fairy tale elements of "The Dollmaker." The story does not quite go as expected and their possible romance may not happen, but the adventure is the journey.
I was more taken with this novel than I ever imagined when I requested to review it. It goes on too long, that's my main criticism, maybe one less Ewa Chaplin story, jewels that they are. Andrew's journey is reason enough to read the book, and there are plenty of odd elements to pique the reader's imagination.
Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
sigynmoon's review
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Bullying
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
eshalliday's review
I was really looking forward to this; it sounded like just the kind of story I could lose myself in. But then I turned the page and was confronted with such an inexcusable presentation of paedophilia, I couldn't continue. Zero stars.
hiking_pages's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A dark and mysterious journey into obsession.
Andrew Garvie, a Dollmaker travels to the wild landscape of Bodmin Moor to rescue his penpal, his true love, Bramber Winters. They talk through letters and reveal more about their pasts to each other - but is it love? And is Bramber being held against her will?
I really enjoyed the ambiguous tone of this novel, there is a straightforwardness to Andrew that makes him unreliable and Bramber we meet through his lovelorn eyes and her letters.
The history of dollmaking and the interspersed short stories by Ewa Chaplin make for an atmospheric read and add to the strangeness.
My only downside was the ending - I found it a little lacklustre and was unsure what I was to take from it - but overall well worth immersing yourself in.
Andrew Garvie, a Dollmaker travels to the wild landscape of Bodmin Moor to rescue his penpal, his true love, Bramber Winters. They talk through letters and reveal more about their pasts to each other - but is it love? And is Bramber being held against her will?
I really enjoyed the ambiguous tone of this novel, there is a straightforwardness to Andrew that makes him unreliable and Bramber we meet through his lovelorn eyes and her letters.
The history of dollmaking and the interspersed short stories by Ewa Chaplin make for an atmospheric read and add to the strangeness.
My only downside was the ending - I found it a little lacklustre and was unsure what I was to take from it - but overall well worth immersing yourself in.
stephanieanneauthor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
This is not typically the kind of book I'd reach for - and I still have no idea how it ended up on my Audible TBR - but I am so glad I read this.
Once I started to get a feel for the tone and style of the story, I became fully engrossed in the plot and characters. And, of course, I loved the addition of those strange and unsettling short stories that peppered the narrative. My favourite was the one about the elephant girl.
There is so much to pick apart in this novel, and so many layers, I wouldn't be surprised if I end up re-reading this one some day to see if there's anything I missed the first time around.
Once I started to get a feel for the tone and style of the story, I became fully engrossed in the plot and characters. And, of course, I loved the addition of those strange and unsettling short stories that peppered the narrative. My favourite was the one about the elephant girl.
There is so much to pick apart in this novel, and so many layers, I wouldn't be surprised if I end up re-reading this one some day to see if there's anything I missed the first time around.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage and Ableism
Minor: Sexual assault
kellyvandamme's review against another edition
4.0
I had never read any of Nina Allan’s books, but when I saw The Dollmaker on Twitter, there was just something about the cover that spoke to me, something in the blurb that drew me in, so I dashed to NetGalley and requested it. When I was approved I was over the moon! Then I started reading it, and to be perfectly honest: I thought I’d made a mistake in requesting The Dollmaker, that maybe it wasn’t one for me. But me being me, I decided not to count my chickens before they hatched and give it a fair try. Suddenly I looked up, 200 pages in, wondering where Sunday afternoon had gone to, and why on earth I’d had such reservations! In hindsight, I think I needed some time to get used to the writing style and to make sense of the story’s make-up.
The tale is threefold: it alternates between Andrew, Bramber and various short stories from the hand of Ewa Chaplin. We first meet Andrew when he’s a young boy encountering his first doll. Just like that, a passion is born and before long Andrew starts making dolls himself. Then we meet Bramber, a woman with a bit of a chequered past, who lives in a remote mansion in a remote area and puts out an ad to which Andrew responds and so they start communicating by letter. Andrew falls head over heels for Bramber and decides he has to meet her, save her, so from then on we follow Andrew on his journey to Bramber, whom we get to know through her letters to Andrew. While Andrew is on the road, he reads some enthralling short stories, little mini thrillers with murder and magic in them. I have to say, that first story confused me a little, what was it doing there?! Although the short stories are mentioned in the blurb I had thought they would be mentioned in passing throughout the book, not that there would be entire stories. However, I ended up positively adoring Ewa’s stories. I loved how they featured dwarfs and were linked to Andrew in that way because he has dwarfism himself. I found myself looking forward to another one whenever the narrative focussed on Andrew and Bramber for more than a few chapters. Although I also enjoyed those parts, mind; during the short stories I found myself wondering what would happen when Andrew finally met Bramber in real life, what would she make of him and his small stature and I was always eager to find out more about the enigmatic woman herself. I do feel the short stories might be a little too long for some readers: they really break up the Andrew-Bramber storyline and I think it might get confusing or annoying if you can only read a few pages at a time. But if you do like I did and read half the book in one sitting, you’ll have no problems with that!
I’m so happy I didn’t DNF this after the first chapters! I ended up thoroughly enjoying both the writing style and the narrative and if you like quirky tales that are just a little bit different from everything else, then you should definitely check this one out!
Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the free e-ARC. All opinions are my own and I was not paid to give them
The tale is threefold: it alternates between Andrew, Bramber and various short stories from the hand of Ewa Chaplin. We first meet Andrew when he’s a young boy encountering his first doll. Just like that, a passion is born and before long Andrew starts making dolls himself. Then we meet Bramber, a woman with a bit of a chequered past, who lives in a remote mansion in a remote area and puts out an ad to which Andrew responds and so they start communicating by letter. Andrew falls head over heels for Bramber and decides he has to meet her, save her, so from then on we follow Andrew on his journey to Bramber, whom we get to know through her letters to Andrew. While Andrew is on the road, he reads some enthralling short stories, little mini thrillers with murder and magic in them. I have to say, that first story confused me a little, what was it doing there?! Although the short stories are mentioned in the blurb I had thought they would be mentioned in passing throughout the book, not that there would be entire stories. However, I ended up positively adoring Ewa’s stories. I loved how they featured dwarfs and were linked to Andrew in that way because he has dwarfism himself. I found myself looking forward to another one whenever the narrative focussed on Andrew and Bramber for more than a few chapters. Although I also enjoyed those parts, mind; during the short stories I found myself wondering what would happen when Andrew finally met Bramber in real life, what would she make of him and his small stature and I was always eager to find out more about the enigmatic woman herself. I do feel the short stories might be a little too long for some readers: they really break up the Andrew-Bramber storyline and I think it might get confusing or annoying if you can only read a few pages at a time. But if you do like I did and read half the book in one sitting, you’ll have no problems with that!
I’m so happy I didn’t DNF this after the first chapters! I ended up thoroughly enjoying both the writing style and the narrative and if you like quirky tales that are just a little bit different from everything else, then you should definitely check this one out!
Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the free e-ARC. All opinions are my own and I was not paid to give them
someonetookit's review against another edition
3.0
When I final;y finished this novel, I wasnt quite sure what to think. I didn't dislike it as a story but I also didn't feel any particular degree of like for the tale either. It just kind of was.
I initially requested this novel from Netgalley based upon the beautiful cover art and the blurb which drew me in. I have never read a Nina Allan novel before but due to the description and cover, I thought I would give it a go.
The Dollmaker is split into 3 portions, that of Andrew G - a lover of dolls from a young age, insitutionalised Bramber, and tales of the eccentric Eva Chaplin, a Polish Jew dollmaker of the past. In The Dollmaker Andrew and Bramber exchange penmail while he makes his way to her in order to save her from her meagre existence. Threaded throughout are the tales of Ewa, bridging the gap in correspondence.
Going in I was extremely hopeful for an enthralling experience but alas, after around 25% I really started to lose interest. I think the main point that turned me off was Ewa's obsession with dwarves which I found strange and isolating for her character.
Overall, as I said previously it was not a 'bad' novel nor was it fantastic. It simply just was
i received a review copy of this novel from Netgalley and Quercus Publishing. The opinions within are my own and have in no way been affected by the publisher or its affiliates.
I initially requested this novel from Netgalley based upon the beautiful cover art and the blurb which drew me in. I have never read a Nina Allan novel before but due to the description and cover, I thought I would give it a go.
The Dollmaker is split into 3 portions, that of Andrew G - a lover of dolls from a young age, insitutionalised Bramber, and tales of the eccentric Eva Chaplin, a Polish Jew dollmaker of the past. In The Dollmaker Andrew and Bramber exchange penmail while he makes his way to her in order to save her from her meagre existence. Threaded throughout are the tales of Ewa, bridging the gap in correspondence.
Going in I was extremely hopeful for an enthralling experience but alas, after around 25% I really started to lose interest. I think the main point that turned me off was Ewa's obsession with dwarves which I found strange and isolating for her character.
Overall, as I said previously it was not a 'bad' novel nor was it fantastic. It simply just was
i received a review copy of this novel from Netgalley and Quercus Publishing. The opinions within are my own and have in no way been affected by the publisher or its affiliates.
hippiechick56's review against another edition
2.0
Not what I expected at all. The story is disjointed and confusing. It flits between 3 different stories, letters, past and present.
chirson's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for a review. My opinions are my own.
I discovered Nina Allan slightly more than a year ago, and I fell in love with her writing in The Rift and The Race; they were some of my favourite novels read last year, so I was beyond excited to get ahold of her newest novel, The Dollmaker, even though the description didn't really appeal to my taste. And really, the novel was both what I love about Allan's writing and what made me wary in the description; the rating of 3.5 stars that I wish I could leave is the reflection of that.
What I loved about Allan's two previous novels and what was realised beautifully here was the way in which the relationship between the frame and the embedded stories is undermined. The characters tell stories about themselves and about the world, and these stories contain further stories. The relationship between fiction and fiction-within-fiction is uncertain and complex; the reader is never sure if the world described is one of the historical past or the present or a fantastical world. There's an effect of disorientation at times; if I interrupted reading in the middle of a chapter, upon returning to the book, I would often find it difficult to find my bearings again, and it was amazing.
The book is also very beautifully written and engrossing, and its characters are as fascinating as the mysteries they slowly reveal.
What didn't quite work for me was the aspect of disability. While this story is essentially about and against oppression and prejudice, I found it occasionally difficult to get through the ablist thoughts of characters and disturbing images the book evoked (particularly with regard to children). I am not entirely convinced that the book succeeds in what it wants to accomplish there, and I found its pessimism almost misanthropic - and that's something I don't really like in fiction.
And my second complaint, predictably, concerns the use of Polish names in the book...
Nonetheless, I found this book extremely interesting and thought-provoking, and I can't wait to read more from this author. I love her voice and her vision.
I discovered Nina Allan slightly more than a year ago, and I fell in love with her writing in The Rift and The Race; they were some of my favourite novels read last year, so I was beyond excited to get ahold of her newest novel, The Dollmaker, even though the description didn't really appeal to my taste. And really, the novel was both what I love about Allan's writing and what made me wary in the description; the rating of 3.5 stars that I wish I could leave is the reflection of that.
What I loved about Allan's two previous novels and what was realised beautifully here was the way in which the relationship between the frame and the embedded stories is undermined. The characters tell stories about themselves and about the world, and these stories contain further stories. The relationship between fiction and fiction-within-fiction is uncertain and complex; the reader is never sure if the world described is one of the historical past or the present or a fantastical world. There's an effect of disorientation at times; if I interrupted reading in the middle of a chapter, upon returning to the book, I would often find it difficult to find my bearings again, and it was amazing.
The book is also very beautifully written and engrossing, and its characters are as fascinating as the mysteries they slowly reveal.
What didn't quite work for me was the aspect of disability. While this story is essentially about and against oppression and prejudice, I found it occasionally difficult to get through the ablist thoughts of characters and disturbing images the book evoked (particularly with regard to children). I am not entirely convinced that the book succeeds in what it wants to accomplish there, and I found its pessimism almost misanthropic - and that's something I don't really like in fiction.
And my second complaint, predictably, concerns the use of Polish names in the book...
Spoiler
while the relationship between all the stories written within this novel and our world is tenuous and the use of mangled Polish names (and Russian names for presumably Polish characters in the translated-from-the-Polish stories of a Polish emigrant) might well have been intentional, I found myself annoyed whenever I saw another faux-Polish name. Krystina Lodz? That's a name an emigrant might have, but not a Polish scholar - in Poland... Is "Fryderyck" spelled this way to indicate it's not the actual Fryderyk Chopin but another one? Perhaps all of this was on purpose, but if so, I wish there was a note to address it; as a Polish reader I am accustomed to books getting spelling of Polish names wrong and caring little for accuracy and it bugs me all the more. (See also Krakow University, which sounds about as authentic to me as "Providence University" instead of Yale - so is this a way to indicate that it's a different world that has a Krakow and not a Jagiellonian University, or is it done to make it easier for English-language readers by avoiding difficult words, or is it simply a mistake? If it's on purpose, very few people would know, so I'm inclined to think a simplification or a mistake :/)Nonetheless, I found this book extremely interesting and thought-provoking, and I can't wait to read more from this author. I love her voice and her vision.