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2.72 AVERAGE
2.72 AVERAGE
I couldn't finish this book. I found the plot to be a bizarre, winding narrative leading me on the road to nowhere. It had its fascinating chapters? no. pages? no. sentences, yes. But it didn't do it for me and I couldn't keep on reading to see if it all pulled together.
I tried to read this book a very, very long time ago. I tried so hard to get into it, but I found it dry and boring. I just gave up, and never actually finished it.
To conclude: -6 stars, Mr. Maguire.
To conclude: -6 stars, Mr. Maguire.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Classic Maguire writing. Brooding character who is reflective in times of fear, with a big twist. I found this book slow to start but when the plot picked up it was an overhaul of information - I feel like this is something Maguire does a lot though.
I never understood why Maguire always has to include incest?
I think that the plot had a lot of potential, but that the dialogue and the way characters went about doing things lacked a wow-factor. I did learn a few things, however, and at times found it immensely enjoyable.
**UPDATE** this was a very old review (2009) that makes me laugh now. However, I still feel the same way many years later. I’ve updated my wording a bit but not too much. Still want it to make me giggle at my younger self trying to be so witty. Enjoy and laugh at me too.
I hated this book. I've all his other books and enjoyed them. They weren't amazing, couldn't put down reads but they were good. This one however was terrible. It makes you think it's going to be some kind of mash up of Scrooge and Jack the Ripper, as is his theme of retelling classic stories, this book however didn’t achieve. Boring, long, goes all over the place with no clear reason as to why or connection. (I stuck with it because at the time I would never DNF a book.) The end sucks and makes no sense. It's terrible, I'm glad I got it used so it was only 5 bucks but I could have gotten a Subway foot long instead! lol (this still in 2020 makes me sing the $5 foot long song.) It's a frustrating book that goes way out there and never comes back...waste.
I hated this book. I've all his other books and enjoyed them. They weren't amazing, couldn't put down reads but they were good. This one however was terrible. It makes you think it's going to be some kind of mash up of Scrooge and Jack the Ripper, as is his theme of retelling classic stories, this book however didn’t achieve. Boring, long, goes all over the place with no clear reason as to why or connection. (I stuck with it because at the time I would never DNF a book.) The end sucks and makes no sense. It's terrible, I'm glad I got it used so it was only 5 bucks but I could have gotten a Subway foot long instead! lol (this still in 2020 makes me sing the $5 foot long song.) It's a frustrating book that goes way out there and never comes back...waste.
A story of Winnie Rudge, American writer, who travels to London in search of material for her latest novel. Instead, she finds her cousin gone, the house "possessed", and a myriad of odd characters that lead her to discover a secret about the "Rudge House". The take is interspersed with flashbacks lived through Winnie's fictional alter-ego Wendy as well as her own prose.
Truly hard to follow until the last 50 pages, but obviously well-researched and bizarre enough to keep the reader turning pages. Sadly, I don't think Maguire will ever write another "Wicked" and that will taint ever book of his that I pick-up.
Truly hard to follow until the last 50 pages, but obviously well-researched and bizarre enough to keep the reader turning pages. Sadly, I don't think Maguire will ever write another "Wicked" and that will taint ever book of his that I pick-up.
This was a very challenging read but well worth it! So hard to describe because it is so many stories in one!
This was not for me. The premise was intriguing, but something about the dialog didn't feel natural and made me lose interested in the characters completely.
Not the best book I have read in a while. It was a quick read but seemed to drag on and on. And I had the whole thing figured out about half way through. There were a few entertaining moments, but not enough to redeem this book. I normally love Maguire's books, especially Wicked, but this one was a big disappointment.
Traditionally, I am a big fan of Gregory Maguire. I loved Wicked and it's sequels.
I could not get into this one. At all. The painful repetition, the story that didn't really seem to go anywhere, I was bored to tears, hoping that something of substance would emerge. I finally had to put it down because I was just bored to tears.
The concept is great, the execution is poor.
I could not get into this one. At all. The painful repetition, the story that didn't really seem to go anywhere, I was bored to tears, hoping that something of substance would emerge. I finally had to put it down because I was just bored to tears.
The concept is great, the execution is poor.