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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
3 1/2 stars.
I keep hearing about Tana French and decided to give her a try. The first book in the series was backlogged at my library, so I dove right in with the second. I had heard that the books do not have to be read in order as the plots don't build upon one another. While this was true and I was able to follow this storyline with no trouble, I did feel like I was missing out on some of the depth that the protagonist's back story would have brought to this book.
Also, I knocked 1/2 star off for the language. You will want to steer clear of this one if you are offended by bad language. It seemed excessive to me at times.
I wasn't sure how I felt about this book when I began reading, but before I knew it I was sucked in and couldn't stop thinking about the characters and the completely implausible plot that somehow works. The biggest star to me was the setting. It had a Gothic feel that put me in mind of one of my favorites - Rebecca. This is a mystery that is ultimately more about the people involved than it is about the case itself. And it is engrossing.
I keep hearing about Tana French and decided to give her a try. The first book in the series was backlogged at my library, so I dove right in with the second. I had heard that the books do not have to be read in order as the plots don't build upon one another. While this was true and I was able to follow this storyline with no trouble, I did feel like I was missing out on some of the depth that the protagonist's back story would have brought to this book.
Also, I knocked 1/2 star off for the language. You will want to steer clear of this one if you are offended by bad language. It seemed excessive to me at times.
I wasn't sure how I felt about this book when I began reading, but before I knew it I was sucked in and couldn't stop thinking about the characters and the completely implausible plot that somehow works. The biggest star to me was the setting. It had a Gothic feel that put me in mind of one of my favorites - Rebecca. This is a mystery that is ultimately more about the people involved than it is about the case itself. And it is engrossing.
mysterious
medium-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
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Haunting, very good. I still think about it at random times. The story, the concept--someone identical to you taking your place--makes you think and sticks with you.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved In the Woods. I really loved Faithful Place (which I read out of order). But it's taken me a month and a half to get through this book. The book requires you to suspend belief on so many levels. Yet I continued reading, thinking there would be a big pay off. Nope!
Tana French's prose is amazing. I read her books partly to inspire me to be a better writer. But this book exhausted me. The central concept--of someone trying and failing to create an ideal "Camelot" with roommates--is intriguing. But French beats the idea to death. And ultimately the situation she sets up doesn't ring true. I want the hours back that I spent reading this book.
Tana French's prose is amazing. I read her books partly to inspire me to be a better writer. But this book exhausted me. The central concept--of someone trying and failing to create an ideal "Camelot" with roommates--is intriguing. But French beats the idea to death. And ultimately the situation she sets up doesn't ring true. I want the hours back that I spent reading this book.
I'm so disappointed.
When I finished [b:In the Woods|237209|In the Woods (Dublin Murder Squad, #1)|Tana French|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348442606s/237209.jpg|3088141] I was about as excited as I've ever been about a series. Even though a lot of people had a problem with the way that one panned out, I loved it. And when I learned that the series gets even better, well that was really good news for me.
The Likeness started off rather absurdly, and this absurd plot device didn't get any less absurd as the pages went on. And on. And on. And on. Note I choose the word pages rather than story.
About this plot device. Really? I'm sorry, I can't buy into the fact that Cassie was able to fool everyone into believing she was Lexie.
I spent most of this weekend plodding through a hundred pages of essentially nothing happening. This I can usually excuse if I'm very invested in the characters. And, to be frank, I really wasn't. Characters were drawn out okay, but there simply wasn't much that made them all that interesting as the PAGES went on. And on. And on.
At 55% last night I started scouring reviews for reasons to continue. After about 15 minutes of this, I realized this in itself is a sign that I needed to stop once and for all and move on to something else that I can be excited about.
I won't one-star this because French's writing is terrific. I would have stuck with this if it was 200 pages shorter, even with the unbelievable premise.
When I finished [b:In the Woods|237209|In the Woods (Dublin Murder Squad, #1)|Tana French|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348442606s/237209.jpg|3088141] I was about as excited as I've ever been about a series. Even though a lot of people had a problem with the way that one panned out, I loved it. And when I learned that the series gets even better, well that was really good news for me.
The Likeness started off rather absurdly, and this absurd plot device didn't get any less absurd as the pages went on. And on. And on. And on. Note I choose the word pages rather than story.
Spoiler
About this plot device. Really? I'm sorry, I can't buy into the fact that Cassie was able to fool everyone into believing she was Lexie.
I spent most of this weekend plodding through a hundred pages of essentially nothing happening. This I can usually excuse if I'm very invested in the characters. And, to be frank, I really wasn't. Characters were drawn out okay, but there simply wasn't much that made them all that interesting as the PAGES went on. And on. And on.
At 55% last night I started scouring reviews for reasons to continue. After about 15 minutes of this, I realized this in itself is a sign that I needed to stop once and for all and move on to something else that I can be excited about.
I won't one-star this because French's writing is terrific. I would have stuck with this if it was 200 pages shorter, even with the unbelievable premise.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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:
No