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jamiecakes0522's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning is slow. It felt like nothing was happening. It wasn’t until about halfway through when things started to get interesting.
This book wasn’t at all what I was expecting. But the story was interesting. Also sad but optimistic in the end.
It definitely held a mystery but not in the page turning kind of way.
By the end I was glad to have read it. It was a fascinating look at religion, “fasting girls” and 19th Century Ireland.
This book wasn’t at all what I was expecting. But the story was interesting. Also sad but optimistic in the end.
It definitely held a mystery but not in the page turning kind of way.
By the end I was glad to have read it. It was a fascinating look at religion, “fasting girls” and 19th Century Ireland.
bronski's review against another edition
4.0
The setting of this book (19th century rural Ireland) was enough to sell me, but add in medical mystery and I'm scrambling to get started. It was a slow moving plot, but by halfway through I constantly found myself reaching for the book to find out what happens next. I loved the frequent references to Florence Nightingale and learning how the field of nursing has evolved (there are still similarities, unfortunately).
kimcheel's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
lola_rocha's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
threegoodrats's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. The writing was good, but this is my least favorite Emma Donoghue book so far. Lib, the nurse, constantly disparaged Catholics, and the Irish in general. When the O'Donnell's said their son was "gone" she assumed he emigrated, I have no idea why, and she went with that story for quite a while. She really just believed what she wanted to believe. This story seems to be about the dangers of religion and while I am an atheist myself, I found it quite heavy-handed.
amenon07's review against another edition
3.0
Bizarre book that was weirdly haunting and definitely dragged out too long. The ending was quite disappointing, would’ve probably been a 4 star if the ending hadn’t been quite so rough and predictable.
emeraldgarnet's review against another edition
4.0
Excellently written with a suspenseful plot and vivid characters. Unlike Lib, I felt no sorrow for Patrick.
fayew80's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
szirbel's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the challenges between religious beliefs and medical intervention needed to save young Anna's soul that was woven in the story. Could have done without the secret and the community's acceptance of keeping it just to "not speak ill of the dead." Very happy Eliza and Nan got the ending they deserved!
michelleleao10's review against another edition
5.0
This was a phenomenal read! Once I started I couldn't put it down! I definitely didn't see the ending coming, which I greatly appreciated. Donoghue's writing styles was also greatly appreciated.