Scan barcode
riddleunsolved's review against another edition
4.0
At the beginning of this book, I felt the same frustration that many of the other reviewers here did with the hedonistic behavior of the thoroughly unsympathetic two main characters. But as the story progressed, it became clear that the author is not heralding their romance as an honorable union worthy of the destruction that they must inflict to be together. Instead, it became more of a dark caricature of an unhealthy romance, underscoring the massive amounts of delusion and deception that are required to maintain such an all-consuming and possessive relationship. The story was extremely well-told, unfolding as the narrator shifted focus from character to character, not always in real-time, but often through the characters' reflections. As more was exposed about the characters through their own thoughts and those of their peers, the reader began to see the bigger picture, and it was a very effective and engrossing technique. I can't speak to this being a retelling of [b:Wuthering Heights], but I found it to be a well-crafted, chillingly dark story with an ultimately beautiful lesson about the virtue of letting go.
k8kaufman's review against another edition
It was hard to put down. Disturbing and yet hopeful.
esmemazzeo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sedeara's review against another edition
3.0
At first, there seemed very little that distinguished this book as "literary fiction" rather than "romance." The character treatment was limited, somewhat shallow and stereotypical, and the writing didn't have the sort of glimmer one comes to expect from literary fiction. Although her shifting of viewpoint characters can more adequately be described as "head-flowing" than "head-hopping," it still really annoyed me that she wouldn't just "stay in one place" for an entire scene. (By "head-flowing," I mean that there was often a common thread that supposedly should have "smoothed" the transition from one viewpoint character to another within the same scene, but in actuality it just made me not feel connected to *anyone.*)
I didn't like any of the characters except March's husband, Richard, who is only in about two scenes, and who gets jilted for her childhood love who, as a man, battered his previous wife. I couldn't buy into the relationship/connection between Gwen and the racehorse, Tarot, who, in actuality, would have probably trampled her. This book is essentially a retelling of "Wuthering Heights," but that's not what redeemed it -- what redeemed it was the way it followed that kind of obsessive, possessive love, forged in the inexperience of childhood, out to its logical conclusion, handily dispelling the notion that such a love is "romantic." And for that, anyone whose looking for a romance in these pages is probably the person who most needs to read them.
I didn't like any of the characters except March's husband, Richard, who is only in about two scenes, and who gets jilted for her childhood love who, as a man, battered his previous wife. I couldn't buy into the relationship/connection between Gwen and the racehorse, Tarot, who, in actuality, would have probably trampled her. This book is essentially a retelling of "Wuthering Heights," but that's not what redeemed it -- what redeemed it was the way it followed that kind of obsessive, possessive love, forged in the inexperience of childhood, out to its logical conclusion, handily dispelling the notion that such a love is "romantic." And for that, anyone whose looking for a romance in these pages is probably the person who most needs to read them.
bookishmomlady's review against another edition
3.0
This was just ok. It took a turn I wasn’t expecting but then the end was a little anticlimactic. Some ends were left loose which I found a little annoying, as well.
dani033's review against another edition
1.0
Its inspired by or modeled after wuthering heights, but not nearly as good..
emmagcannon's review against another edition
4.0
Think Wuthering Heights meets Mrs. Dalloway but then make it about domestic violence!
ryonke's review against another edition
3.0
I bought this at a library book sale. I’ll admit with the Oprah seal of approval I’d thought oh it must be good.
It was not that good.
What first started as what I thought was a sweet homecoming back to the sleepy childhood town was anything but. So many skeletons in the closets, I’m left with more questions than answers, and feeling very angry at the sheer stupidity of March.
At least the horse is fine, I’d have set the book on fire if anything happened to Tarot.
It was not that good.
What first started as what I thought was a sweet homecoming back to the sleepy childhood town was anything but. So many skeletons in the closets, I’m left with more questions than answers, and feeling very angry at the sheer stupidity of March.
At least the horse is fine, I’d have set the book on fire if anything happened to Tarot.
ladycello's review against another edition
1.0
I despise almost everything this book made me feel. Getting inside the minds of an abuser and his victims is so not what I needed to be reading right now. Even in a better mood, it wouldn't go past two stars, and I would only go that high because at least the victims do get out in the end, and the abuser got what he deserved.
I pushed through quickly out of obligation to read this for a discussion group, otherwise I never would have picked it up. Unfortunately, I think it has also soured my chances of ever reading another Alice Hoffman book.
I pushed through quickly out of obligation to read this for a discussion group, otherwise I never would have picked it up. Unfortunately, I think it has also soured my chances of ever reading another Alice Hoffman book.
viktoriya's review against another edition
3.0
I was a little disappointed with the way the book ended. I felt like the story was cut short. Several of the storylines that have been developed throught the book were simply forgotten in the end.