Reviews

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

lilanye's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

maryvdb2024's review against another edition

4.0

4.8 * Great book. A slow start with characters introduced and internal dialogues setting the scene. So glad I didn’t give up. Disguised by eco-terrorism but so many betrayals on so many levels. Twists and turns and a truly dramatic calamitous ending. I cannot stop thinking about this story and its many layers. Such a contemporary novel dealing with surveillance, privacy. Exploitation on so many levels. Thank you for a roller coaster read.

kate_molton's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The sort of book that I don’t necessarily enjoy reading but at the same time can’t stop thinking about it. Catton brilliantly highlighted the worst of people in a darkly humorous way making me feel a little hopeless about the future but reminding me I can still laugh at the world ending. 

graciecamp's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

hannahledavies's review against another edition

Not feeling it. Maybe just the audio? 

kellzone's review against another edition

adventurous funny tense 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

4.25

nini23's review against another edition

White people polemic about the environment, I feel tired just reading these people that have real life counterparts eg Peter Thiel buying a bolthole in NZ. Building luxury doomsday bunkers with features like swimming pools and flaming moats (to keep the phlebians away)is apparently the latest craze among the billionaires.  Mira and Tony make me tired too with their self-serving arguments. Is this an attempt to excoriate both the right and left? I don't know and don't care, just a bunch of white people yapping away. There are literally no other voices in the room of the decision making. 

The rare earth elements thing? Taiwan has them.
Would rather read from a Māori perspective 

sgvanni's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

acer's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.75

amberherself's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0