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3.12 AVERAGE
3.12 AVERAGE
Dark, poetic and thrilling.
People slowly going mad in a would be paradise with beautiful poetic descriptions. That's just my cup of tea. I was completely gripped, at a few points scared and on the edge of my seat. This is one of those books that I know will stay with me and will recommend to everyone.
People slowly going mad in a would be paradise with beautiful poetic descriptions. That's just my cup of tea. I was completely gripped, at a few points scared and on the edge of my seat. This is one of those books that I know will stay with me and will recommend to everyone.
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really complex and rings true.
I ended up DNFing at 62%.
from the beginning I struggled to get into this. But I had hoped that would change. sadly it didn't.
I spent most of that 62% confused. Probably because I was struggling so I wasn't taking much in.
This wasn't what I expected
from the beginning I struggled to get into this. But I had hoped that would change. sadly it didn't.
I spent most of that 62% confused. Probably because I was struggling so I wasn't taking much in.
This wasn't what I expected
A solid debut. Some imperfections here and there (a few cliches, an occasional mixed metaphor, weird inconsistencies of character etc) but ultimately it was
1. something I haven't read before
2. exactly what I wanted to read right now.
1. something I haven't read before
2. exactly what I wanted to read right now.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I liked the premise of this story - set in the 1950s, Bea and her husband Max, a missionary pastor, travel to a remote South Pacific island and find themselves faced with hostile conditions, the legacy of the previous missionary and the melding of Christianity with traditional beliefs. Bea’s increasing detachment serves to simultaneously isolate her and enable her to recognise subtle shifts in those around her, and the book follows her journey as things gradually fall apart.
This is a highly atmospheric book - the descriptions of jungle, its claustrophobia and thick wetness teeming with insects helped to paint a vivid picture of the island and village. Bea herself is an interesting character - passive on the surface, she hides a hidden strength, and her determination to make the most of their experience resulted in some lovely passages about the natural environment of the island and her interactions with it.
Despite these strengths, the book suffered from unnecessary detours into the perspectives of minor side characters, which added nothing to the plot and jolted me out of the flow of the story. I kept wondering how the threads were going to tie together, and although there was a link, it did not justify taking the me away from the village just as I was becoming fully engaged.
Overall, an enjoyable book, but lacking in the execution required to make it particularly memorable for me.
This is a highly atmospheric book - the descriptions of jungle, its claustrophobia and thick wetness teeming with insects helped to paint a vivid picture of the island and village. Bea herself is an interesting character - passive on the surface, she hides a hidden strength, and her determination to make the most of their experience resulted in some lovely passages about the natural environment of the island and her interactions with it.
Despite these strengths, the book suffered from unnecessary detours into the perspectives of minor side characters, which added nothing to the plot and jolted me out of the flow of the story. I kept wondering how the threads were going to tie together, and although there was a link, it did not justify taking the me away from the village just as I was becoming fully engaged.
Overall, an enjoyable book, but lacking in the execution required to make it particularly memorable for me.
A fascinating read, with fantastic tempo, as good novels should be.
I'm now glad I don't live in the jungle, Joseph Conrad was right, people there end up doing funny things
I'm now glad I don't live in the jungle, Joseph Conrad was right, people there end up doing funny things
I was drawn in by the prologue of this book and the conflict at the heart of it, but if it weren't for that, I'm not sure I would have persevered. The writing is beautiful and has a hypnotic quality, giving a real flavour of the island. However that's also its weakness - it's harder to cut good prose when it isn't pulling its weight in narrative terms. There were also large sections of backstory that were probably useful to the writer but superfluous to the reader. It did eventually pick up pace towards the end and the drama turned in a way I didn't entirely expect.
*
I received a copy of Things Bright and Beautiful from the publisher Netgalley.
Read more of my reviews at https://katevane.com
*
I received a copy of Things Bright and Beautiful from the publisher Netgalley.
Read more of my reviews at https://katevane.com
i loved absolutely everything about this. right down to the very last sentence. gets right under your skin.