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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Classism
What a beautiful and hauntingly subtle but impactful book.
Megan Chance did a fantastic job evoking a nostalgia for a city that was (even a city that is, I never cared for San Francisco but she made me miss it), describing the 1906 earthquake and its aftermath, describing destruction I've only imagined and making it palpable. Most of all, she traps you with a feeling of suspense but where is the suspense coming from when she's only talking about mansions, and gilded hallways, and champagne fueled afternoons?! Incredible.
She constructed this book, this plot, this story so masterfully. The deception, the betrayal, the love subplot that didn't feel sickeningly cliché, the ending that is after everything that has happened subtle, almost anticlimactic but the cherry on top.
Sadly I did have to skim through the asylum scenes, so vivid and horrendous, and my immersion and understanding of the book suffered a little for skimming. They were personally too much for me, but that is not to detract others from reading this.
There were many opportunities to be cliché, predictable, boring, but Chance avoided all of them.
Megan Chance did a fantastic job evoking a nostalgia for a city that was (even a city that is, I never cared for San Francisco but she made me miss it), describing the 1906 earthquake and its aftermath, describing destruction I've only imagined and making it palpable. Most of all, she traps you with a feeling of suspense but where is the suspense coming from when she's only talking about mansions, and gilded hallways, and champagne fueled afternoons?! Incredible.
She constructed this book, this plot, this story so masterfully. The deception, the betrayal, the love subplot that didn't feel sickeningly cliché, the ending that is after everything that has happened subtle, almost anticlimactic but the cherry on top.
Sadly I did have to skim through the asylum scenes, so vivid and horrendous, and my immersion and understanding of the book suffered a little for skimming. They were personally too much for me, but that is not to detract others from reading this.
There were many opportunities to be cliché, predictable, boring, but Chance avoided all of them.
I really struggled with the first half of A Splendid Ruin, then loved where the story went and how the main character finally developed in the second half. Definitely a book I’m glad I finished, even as it was hard for me to get into at first.
"I ignored everything that told me nothing was as I’d believed. That was my first mistake".
This was an interesting story. I liked more of the story with the maid and the underground information there than the actual death mystery. I also really liked the MC. I loved her idea when she was young to draw rooms and decorate, such a fun and interesting detail that I don't read often in characters. The ins and outs of society weren't my favorite parts but the story was solid and the writing was good. I liked this one.
This was an interesting story. I liked more of the story with the maid and the underground information there than the actual death mystery. I also really liked the MC. I loved her idea when she was young to draw rooms and decorate, such a fun and interesting detail that I don't read often in characters. The ins and outs of society weren't my favorite parts but the story was solid and the writing was good. I liked this one.
I'd recently read a non-fiction book about the earthquake/fires in SanFran1906, and it was so factual, so many "characters" (can't really call them that, as they were real/researched people). I wanted to experience it in a more fictional way and this was one of the novels I found. Currently I have a KU subscription, so I was able to access the Kindle and audio as part of the program.
While I liked this, and it kept my interest, I don't know that I ever really connected to the characters, enough to get emotionally involved. The whole set-up of the story seemed a little over the top SPOILER that the Uncle/Cousin would have schemed SO much, getting the MC to come out, knowing about her inheritance when even she herself did not. All the little "setups" to make May look bad, to have the murder and blame her ... that went off without a hitch. Throw in that May happens to draw interiors/architecture and that can be stolen from her as well. I had to refer to the Kindle copy to straighten out a few of the people in my mind.
I'm not sure how much the story itself will stick with me. It was interesting to see what I had learned from [book:The Longest Minute: The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906|60784534], seeing some of the situations. The earthquake, while playing a pivotal part for May, didn't really get that much attention. The fires were mentioned. It was good to see some aspects in the story, but I think I wanted more.
First person, past tense. This had a few of the "words" I track ... roiled, deign, mullioned windows. No proFanity. There was some sex, but pretty closed door if I remember correctly.
While I liked this, and it kept my interest, I don't know that I ever really connected to the characters, enough to get emotionally involved. The whole set-up of the story seemed a little over the top SPOILER
I'm not sure how much the story itself will stick with me. It was interesting to see what I had learned from [book:The Longest Minute: The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906|60784534], seeing some of the situations. The earthquake, while playing a pivotal part for May, didn't really get that much attention. The fires were mentioned. It was good to see some aspects in the story, but I think I wanted more.
First person, past tense. This had a few of the "words" I track ... roiled, deign, mullioned windows. No proFanity. There was some sex, but pretty closed door if I remember correctly.
What an excellent example of historical fiction! This was steeped in San Fran history, with a little bit of the Nellie Bly experience and a classic rags to riches story thrown in for good measure. The description of the treatment of residents in Chinatown hit me particularly hard, especially given the current climate. But this was meticulously researched, which is why I love reading these kinds of stories.
I was particularly drawn to the sense of place. I found myself consulting my handy coffee table book of San Francisco then and now (what can I say, I love the city) to look at Nob Hill and City Hall as they were described. It made me want to book a trip to Cali immediately and see it all again myself! It’s a city that was forced to reinvent itself after the horrors of the earthquake and fire, but has thrived despite the conditions, much like our protagonist May!
I was particularly drawn to the sense of place. I found myself consulting my handy coffee table book of San Francisco then and now (what can I say, I love the city) to look at Nob Hill and City Hall as they were described. It made me want to book a trip to Cali immediately and see it all again myself! It’s a city that was forced to reinvent itself after the horrors of the earthquake and fire, but has thrived despite the conditions, much like our protagonist May!
This book was on a list of gothic stories and...it is not that. It's a historical intrigue and murder novel. The second half also had a lot of 'revenge plot' vibes. It was a quick read and for much of the book, I wanted to turn the page. While it was pretty clear where things were going, the way the author wrote the book, she expected you to know that. Instead of 'who did it?' the questions to be answered were things like 'how will the protagonist get out of this situation?' Overall, a good weekend afternoon read.
Two things of note - (1) there is a section with an asylum and horrible practices that occur there. If that's a CW for you, stay away. (2) the big glaring omission in the story is the plague (yes, that plague). The story features the San Francisco earthquake, but no one mentions the plague outbreak that was going on before and during this time. I'm not sure why this was ignored, especially considering some of the things the author featured in the novel.
Two things of note - (1) there is a section with an asylum and horrible practices that occur there. If that's a CW for you, stay away. (2) the big glaring omission in the story is the plague (yes, that plague). The story features the San Francisco earthquake, but no one mentions the plague outbreak that was going on before and during this time. I'm not sure why this was ignored, especially considering some of the things the author featured in the novel.
I will admit I was a little hesitant picking this one up since I am not usually one for historical fiction or family dramas. However, I am super psyched I did - this book was a surprisingly mysterious and fun read and one I will definitely be recommending! I couldn't put it down and found it to be a fresh read for the new year.
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the copy for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the copy for an honest review.
This book drew me in with its tone, suggesting things are off in a very subtle way. I did not enjoy the blessington time, which obviously was the point. As soon as she was free I did relish in May finding herself, what she wants, and dealing revenge on the Sullivans.