Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was recommended by a friend of mine, who said it's one of the best books he's read this year (and maybe ever), and coming from such an avid reader, I knew I had to check it out.
It's the only book ever published from Elspeth Barker, so this was the first time I've read her works (which means: pitifully it'll be the only work I'll ever read from her). It was quite enchanting. The dark, foggy moors of Scotland was the background setting of this book. But Barker's stunning wordplay contrasted it with colourful little details of the scenery (the green hills, the birds, the flowers and mushrooms), and of Janet.
Janet, the eldest daughter to Hector and Vera, was a delightful little delinquent. Her feelings, her thoughts, her moods, it was funny to witness. Especially on occasions when I read and think "oh, she's so me."
Janet, a girl with too-big and too-deep feelings, who was too large for the frowning, chastising people around her. She wanted to be big, to take up space, to do things of her own will, who often gets struck down and being told "no". Bruised, beaten, scolded, scoffed at, and yet she grimaces with mud between her teeth.
Janet was an interesting character. She wanted things her own way, even if it meant she'd get her hands dirty and she gets whipped for it. She cared not for God, or her mother's approval--she would rather be with animals or her books. She'd say yes to two proposals from two different boys in her class just to test out their loyalty despite not caring for them anything more than that. But yes, she is a girl after all. Deep down she wanted to be liked for herself.
She loved in a way that she wanted to be loved. Her love for animals surpassed her love for humans. Tried as she might, she just couldn't find the appeal in fellow human beings. They are too brash, too curt, too vicious. When animals died, she was the only one who cared. She found an injured bird and banged on a vet's door only to be turned away, scorned. No one cared for the little souls. And in turn, no one cared when she died. They were as mad, as accusive as when she made a huge deal of a bird's death. She was murdered and yet they still blamed her for it. She was too much for them.
Chapters 9 and 11 were my favourite. It had so many beautiful lines. Janet's character was at a crescendo and she was like a roaring, growing wave. Dark and wild. Her feelings were intense and she was at an all-time war with everything she was angry with. Humanity, tragedy, God. I had to pause every few lines cause I had to take in the writings. The ending was so dark and yet so bright. If a scene in a book could be loud, that ending was roaring in my ears. Incredible. I'm glad I got to read this, even if it means staying up till nearly 3am to finish it.
It's the only book ever published from Elspeth Barker, so this was the first time I've read her works (which means: pitifully it'll be the only work I'll ever read from her). It was quite enchanting. The dark, foggy moors of Scotland was the background setting of this book. But Barker's stunning wordplay contrasted it with colourful little details of the scenery (the green hills, the birds, the flowers and mushrooms), and of Janet.
Janet, the eldest daughter to Hector and Vera, was a delightful little delinquent. Her feelings, her thoughts, her moods, it was funny to witness. Especially on occasions when I read and think "oh, she's so me."
Janet, a girl with too-big and too-deep feelings, who was too large for the frowning, chastising people around her. She wanted to be big, to take up space, to do things of her own will, who often gets struck down and being told "no". Bruised, beaten, scolded, scoffed at, and yet she grimaces with mud between her teeth.
Janet was an interesting character. She wanted things her own way, even if it meant she'd get her hands dirty and she gets whipped for it. She cared not for God, or her mother's approval--she would rather be with animals or her books. She'd say yes to two proposals from two different boys in her class just to test out their loyalty despite not caring for them anything more than that. But yes, she is a girl after all. Deep down she wanted to be liked for herself.
She loved in a way that she wanted to be loved. Her love for animals surpassed her love for humans. Tried as she might, she just couldn't find the appeal in fellow human beings. They are too brash, too curt, too vicious. When animals died, she was the only one who cared. She found an injured bird and banged on a vet's door only to be turned away, scorned. No one cared for the little souls. And in turn, no one cared when she died. They were as mad, as accusive as when she made a huge deal of a bird's death. She was murdered and yet they still blamed her for it. She was too much for them.
Chapters 9 and 11 were my favourite. It had so many beautiful lines. Janet's character was at a crescendo and she was like a roaring, growing wave. Dark and wild. Her feelings were intense and she was at an all-time war with everything she was angry with. Humanity, tragedy, God. I had to pause every few lines cause I had to take in the writings. The ending was so dark and yet so bright. If a scene in a book could be loud, that ending was roaring in my ears. Incredible. I'm glad I got to read this, even if it means staying up till nearly 3am to finish it.
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
slow-paced
2.5 stars. it was gothic and had an interesting protagonist, a beautiful setting and wonderful description. the story was lacking- i didn’t understand the ending at all- there was absolutely no point in how janet died (don’t worry not a spoiler, you know she dies on the first page). i hated janet’s family, which i suppose was the point? and lila was built up to be a main character and somehow was only present for a few moments? overall a good gothic tale but not worth the title of “best underground modern classic” that it has been given.
challenging
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An impeccably composed novel. Elspeth Barker constructs incredible sentences which hang in the readers mind. An exploration of the isolation and loneliness of the fringe feminine experience. Janet is at war with the expectations of girlhood and coming of age, and her inability to conform to either of these. She feels the strain of being a precocious child, and inexplicable figure amongst her siblings who all manage to fit the expectations held of them. Interposed with these emotionally brutal experiences and the raw exploitation of young girls are glorious descriptions of the landscapes of North-Eastern Scotland.
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes