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hayley_henderson22's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
philippakmoore's review
2.0
A curious tale, and I had high expectations for it for some reason, but I didn't really enjoy it and it was one of those books I'd read a bit of, then put down for a few weeks, then come back to. I could see where it had enormous potential, but overall it just wasn't gripping really. The most interesting bit was the whole Arthur love triangle / surrogate thing, because I could not even IMAGINE being in that position and it was really interesting to read about, and Adams writes quite beautifully about the growing relationship between Ginny and her brother in law, and how surprisingly tender it turns out to be, despite the weird and undeniably awkward circumstance that leads them to getting to know each other better. But apart from this one moment of redemption, I found the characters extremely unlikeable!! Not for me, this one.
hannah_hjs's review
dark
informative
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
toniclark's review against another edition
4.0
I'm close to giving this five stars. It's really awfully good and I love the ambiguities in the plot. I know that many people wanted to have more of the story spelled out at the end. In fact, Michiko Kakutani, in the New York Times, said, ". . . We never learn just what parts of Ginny’s reminiscences are lies and what parts are grounded in the truth." Kakutani concludes, "the jigsaw puzzle that Ms. Adams has so painstakingly fashioned turns out to be missing several crucial pieces by the time we’ve gone to all the work of putting it together."
Okay, I know Kakutani's a sophisticated reader, but these comments strike me as too much like those of someone who expects a story with all the missing pieces coming to light in the last few pages and neatly tied up with a bow at the end. In contrast, I liked the ambiguities, liked being given the opportunity to put the pieces together for myself, in the best way that I could. I felt so much more actively engaged in the story than I usually do. (Disclaimer: I haven't read many mysteries.) There are some things that the reader will never know, just as there are some things that none of the characters can ever know. And that just might include the main character, Ginny, a master of self-deception and ill-equipped to understand social cues and normal human relationships.
I found myself talking about this book at length to friends, explaining why I liked it so much. I thought there was a bit too much detail of the moth research, but it added a lot of texture to the novel as a whole and served to tell us a lot about Ginny.
Okay, I know Kakutani's a sophisticated reader, but these comments strike me as too much like those of someone who expects a story with all the missing pieces coming to light in the last few pages and neatly tied up with a bow at the end. In contrast, I liked the ambiguities, liked being given the opportunity to put the pieces together for myself, in the best way that I could. I felt so much more actively engaged in the story than I usually do. (Disclaimer: I haven't read many mysteries.) There are some things that the reader will never know, just as there are some things that none of the characters can ever know. And that just might include the main character, Ginny, a master of self-deception and ill-equipped to understand social cues and normal human relationships.
I found myself talking about this book at length to friends, explaining why I liked it so much. I thought there was a bit too much detail of the moth research, but it added a lot of texture to the novel as a whole and served to tell us a lot about Ginny.
cathyatratedreads's review against another edition
3.0
A well-written book that largely held my attention. Two sisters reunite after almost 50 years apart; one has stayed in the huge, crumbling old family home alone; one has lived in London. The family has specialized in moths for several generations, and the recluse sister, Ginny, still fancies herself an expert. Strange, possibly suspect, events took places in the sisters' pasts, and hints and excerpts of these events, all seen through Ginny's eyes, unfold throughout the novel. We only hear Vivien's perspective through Ginny's filter, and as the novel wraps up, the reader can mostly surmise what facts were, but still wonders a bit, without the facts being nailed down. Interesting and slightly creepy tale of family relationships and odd personalities. It sometimes drags a bit, but is mostly pretty interesting.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/the-sister-fiction-book-review/
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/the-sister-fiction-book-review/
arthurbennett07's review
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bricepudding's review
3.0
A slow and overly descriptive book, although I do now understand why having finished it. A satisfying albeit quick ending.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
2.0
This is an Advanced Readers' Edition.
FYI: Cyanide is not a neurotoxin, just saying.
FYI: Cyanide is not a neurotoxin, just saying.