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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF - overwritten adventures of an escaped servant.
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Okay hear me out.. this is the revenant but for the girlies.
Tbh I was not expecting this book to be what it was, and I kept waiting for things to happen that never happened, but I keep thinking about it afterwards which I think is a good thing. I’m impressed by all the research and detail that went into the story and felt deeply moved by the themes and vivid writing in the ending. The story is somehow both bleak and optimistic.. kind of reminded me of Cormac McCarthy at times (but with feminism).
Tbh I was not expecting this book to be what it was, and I kept waiting for things to happen that never happened, but I keep thinking about it afterwards which I think is a good thing. I’m impressed by all the research and detail that went into the story and felt deeply moved by the themes and vivid writing in the ending. The story is somehow both bleak and optimistic.. kind of reminded me of Cormac McCarthy at times (but with feminism).
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This book centers on a servant girl who has escaped from the settlement at Jamestown and finds herself alone in the woods with just a few precious possessions. We read every detail of her survival, how cold she is, what food she eats, when she uses the bathroom. Interspersed with those somewhat mundane details, we learn about the girl's past, how she came to be in the New World and what she experienced on the journey over the ocean. We also get to hear her reflections on god, spirituality, and the nature of men and animals.
I think it's the fact that there's these three elements all tied together that make this book so readable. The survival tale alone can be kind of dull and plotless, but when you add in the flashbacks and the reflections it becomes so much richer and more nuanced. This book has a lot to say about colonialism and human nature, but you do need to pay careful attention because it's not an easy read. Groff's writing is just indescribable. In some parts I felt almost bored, but then the next paragraph would be so captivating and insightful that I just couldn't stop reading.
In the end, I do feel a bit conflicted about this book. I think it's an amazing piece of literature and worth reading, but I also like my novels with a bit more plot and excitement. There were also some stomach turning scenes that made me sorry I'd decided to read on my lunch hour. If you are already a Groff fan, then I think you will love this. If you're not, then I'd start with The Matrix. Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for the ARC!
.
I think it's the fact that there's these three elements all tied together that make this book so readable. The survival tale alone can be kind of dull and plotless, but when you add in the flashbacks and the reflections it becomes so much richer and more nuanced. This book has a lot to say about colonialism and human nature, but you do need to pay careful attention because it's not an easy read. Groff's writing is just indescribable. In some parts I felt almost bored, but then the next paragraph would be so captivating and insightful that I just couldn't stop reading.
In the end, I do feel a bit conflicted about this book. I think it's an amazing piece of literature and worth reading, but I also like my novels with a bit more plot and excitement. There were also some stomach turning scenes that made me sorry I'd decided to read on my lunch hour. If you are already a Groff fan, then I think you will love this. If you're not, then I'd start with The Matrix. Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for the ARC!
.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So well written and loved the descriptions of place. It’s bleak and brutal and generally liked it but by the fourth time she nearly dies I was already done. Still worth a read but not my thing!