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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
obsessed with (devastated by, etc.) how tana french writes childhood friendships — really the throughline of the dublin murders and the witch elm — their enduring power, the splendor and danger of tying your identity so tightly to others’, but also the liberation, the possibilities they can contain — magic, made literal. here “there’s something dangerous about the boredom of teenage girls” becomes twisted into the far more interesting “there’s something magical about teenage girls’ collective release from expectations,” and danger only comes in when they’re warped to fit these again. :(
I almost put this down a few times because there were parts that were very slow-moving. I was ultimately glad that I stuck with it, though. The end made the middle worthwhile.
Worth reading? Yes. Quick and light? No.
Worth reading? Yes. Quick and light? No.
Odd element was odd, but overall this is another stellar addition to this series. I adore Antoinette Conway and Steve Moran and am thrilled we're sticking with them for another book. Tana French captures halcyon days incredibly well, those moments that flash and are gone. They gleam in the pages of her books, the contrast of hope and faith with disappointment, betrayal, and reality. When everything feels SO big and SO important that it must last forever and then learning that it doesn't.
I also liked how the relationship between Conway and Moran built over the book and how some of Moran's descriptions reflected those used by the girls. And then the difference between creating something true and creating the same within a bubble. I look forward to seeing how they unravel or tighten in Trespasser. I'm betting on the former. This is a Tana French novel, after all, and she has yet to give us something beautiful without also showing how it decays.
I also liked how the relationship between Conway and Moran built over the book and how some of Moran's descriptions reflected those used by the girls. And then the difference between creating something true and creating the same within a bubble. I look forward to seeing how they unravel or tighten in Trespasser. I'm betting on the former. This is a Tana French novel, after all, and she has yet to give us something beautiful without also showing how it decays.
Enjoyable, though in a mystery full of teenage girls you just always hope it's going to be something more sinister than teenage girl business.
I love these bugs. The only thing I didn't like was the girls telekinesis. So confused about how that and the ghost fit in.
Another classic Tana French read. I think I have finally gotten the hang of her writing and although it sometimes can feel a little daunting, I really enjoy how well she develops each and every character in such great detail. The story in general fell a little flat for me but overall it was a great read!
I liked this so much, but I understand how the supernatural element (which I completely get as a device) may have turned off others. Really, though, French can do no wrong in my eyes.
"Je sais qui l'a tué"
Un an après le meurtre d'un jeune homme retrouvé le crâne défoncé dans le jardin de Sainte-Kilda, une école catholique pour fille, un message anonyme réouvre l'enquête. Stephen Moran, dépositaire du message, s'empresse d'avertir Antoinette Conway, chargée de l'enquête à l'époque.
Le roman est d'abord intéressant du point de vue structurel: deux chronologies sont mis en parallèles. D'un côté, le présent de l'investigation qui se déroule sur vingt-quatre heures: interrogatoires, fouilles, hypothèses, Moran et Conway tente de savoir qui a laissé ce message sur le panneau des secrets de l'école, et par la même occasion, d'enfin comprendre qui a tué Christopher Harper. De l'autre, deux ans avant le meurtre, le quotidien d'une bande d'amie à sainte-Kilda, Holly, Selena, Rebecca et Julia. Faire face à la bande de mean girls de l'école, gérer les relations amoureuses, bref a priori, une bande de copine banale.
Ce que j'ai le plus apprécié dans cette histoire, c'est l'omniprésence de a) la psychologie adolescente, et b) du sexisme constant. C'était vraiment bien tourné et un sujet bien réel du livre: Chris serait-il mort s'il n'y avait pas eu autant de sexisme de la part des garçons de son école envers les filles de Sainte-Kilda ? J'adore les romans à propos de l'adolescence c'est une période fascinante de la vie, en proie aux sentiments les plus extrêmes et complexes. J'ai trouvé les quatre personnages féminins principaux intéressant et mature, elles ne veulent pas appartenir à un groupe, ou être mise dans des boîtes. Elles veulent être libres, mais à quel prix ?
En revanche la fin ne m'a pas éblouie, j'ai trouvé qu'elle tirait un peu en longueur, et que le mobile était un peu faiblard. J'aurais aimé plus de révélation choquante, mais après tout, ce n'est peut-être pas le style de Tana French ! Autre petite critique: les éléments de mysticisme que j'ai beaucoup aimés en eux-mêmes, mais dont je n'ai pas compris la place dans le dénouement ou l'histoire. Ok, elles peuvent éteindre des ampoules, mais en quoi ça m'éclaire (hilarante cette Emma) sur le coupable, ça... personne ne sait!
En bref, j'ai aimé ma lecture, bien écrite (malgré les expressions bizarre et CE LANGAGE SMS DE DEMEURES, personne ne parle kom sa dan lé sms, à part dans les cauchemars des adultes), prenante et pleine de tension, je le recommande sans hésitation, même si je n'ai pas trouvé le dénouement si fort que ça.
Un an après le meurtre d'un jeune homme retrouvé le crâne défoncé dans le jardin de Sainte-Kilda, une école catholique pour fille, un message anonyme réouvre l'enquête. Stephen Moran, dépositaire du message, s'empresse d'avertir Antoinette Conway, chargée de l'enquête à l'époque.
Le roman est d'abord intéressant du point de vue structurel: deux chronologies sont mis en parallèles. D'un côté, le présent de l'investigation qui se déroule sur vingt-quatre heures: interrogatoires, fouilles, hypothèses, Moran et Conway tente de savoir qui a laissé ce message sur le panneau des secrets de l'école, et par la même occasion, d'enfin comprendre qui a tué Christopher Harper. De l'autre, deux ans avant le meurtre, le quotidien d'une bande d'amie à sainte-Kilda, Holly, Selena, Rebecca et Julia. Faire face à la bande de mean girls de l'école, gérer les relations amoureuses, bref a priori, une bande de copine banale.
Ce que j'ai le plus apprécié dans cette histoire, c'est l'omniprésence de a) la psychologie adolescente, et b) du sexisme constant. C'était vraiment bien tourné et un sujet bien réel du livre: Chris serait-il mort s'il n'y avait pas eu autant de sexisme de la part des garçons de son école envers les filles de Sainte-Kilda ? J'adore les romans à propos de l'adolescence c'est une période fascinante de la vie, en proie aux sentiments les plus extrêmes et complexes. J'ai trouvé les quatre personnages féminins principaux intéressant et mature, elles ne veulent pas appartenir à un groupe, ou être mise dans des boîtes. Elles veulent être libres, mais à quel prix ?
En revanche la fin ne m'a pas éblouie, j'ai trouvé qu'elle tirait un peu en longueur, et que le mobile était un peu faiblard. J'aurais aimé plus de révélation choquante, mais après tout, ce n'est peut-être pas le style de Tana French ! Autre petite critique: les éléments de mysticisme que j'ai beaucoup aimés en eux-mêmes, mais dont je n'ai pas compris la place dans le dénouement ou l'histoire. Ok, elles peuvent éteindre des ampoules, mais en quoi ça m'éclaire (hilarante cette Emma) sur le coupable, ça... personne ne sait!
En bref, j'ai aimé ma lecture, bien écrite (malgré les expressions bizarre et CE LANGAGE SMS DE DEMEURES, personne ne parle kom sa dan lé sms, à part dans les cauchemars des adultes), prenante et pleine de tension, je le recommande sans hésitation, même si je n'ai pas trouvé le dénouement si fort que ça.
TOO. LONG. Unnecessarily. And a little repetitive, almost like you're investigating along with them. Interview after interview after interview.
There were a fair amount of sections that I really got into, however, and the killer was a surprise.
Mini spoiler: did not like the supernatural aspect, particularly because it was random, never explained, and had nothing to do with the rest of the book. Was it real? Was it real in their minds? It added nothing to the book except confusion and irritation.
There were a fair amount of sections that I really got into, however, and the killer was a surprise.
Mini spoiler: did not like the supernatural aspect, particularly because it was random, never explained, and had nothing to do with the rest of the book. Was it real? Was it real in their minds? It added nothing to the book except confusion and irritation.
I want to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an ebook. This is my second book by Tana French. I read her first book and have the other three. I just haven't had to time to read them yet. I'm glad. I really like her books.
This whole book takes place in the span of one day, when detectives are trying to figure out a cold case. There is a mysterious note that pops up at the all girls school, claiming they know who killed Chris. When one of the girls takes it to detective Stephen, they immediately go to the school and start their interviewing process all over. They have their suspects down to, two group of girls, which turns out they hate each other. So here is where the game starts and the girls are throwing these detectives in a long game of who did it.
What I really liked about this was that I never knew who actually did it, until the detectives knew. I had so many theories and suspicions that just happened to be wrong. I'm pretty good at this type of thing but when it comes to girl politics, it's pretty convoluted. They have so many games and stories, it's hard to figure out what is truth and what is a lie.
All I can say is, Wow! This whole book is about a close group of girls who will do anything for each other. I mean anything. I'm amazed at the length of what they do and lie about to help each other out. It's a no questions asked type of thing. They just do what they think is best for their friends. Although, this gets them into a lot of trouble that is unnecessary. If only they were honest with each other.
This was a lengthy book and I sometimes found myself getting a little bored with the excessive details. Usually, I like this sort of thing but I found myself getting a little impatient with the storyline. I think the fact that the whole entire book is based on one day, made it a little boring. They can only interview the girls and ask the same questions so many times. The interviews were really lengthy and there were a lot of redundant questions.
I did love the fact that she alternated chapters between the detectives in present day and the actual events told by the girls in the past. This way you kind of get tension going and throughout the book you get both sides. It kind of helps you figure out who did it, right before the detectives figure it out. You get the whole story and see what was going on that led the murder of Chris.
This whole book takes place in the span of one day, when detectives are trying to figure out a cold case. There is a mysterious note that pops up at the all girls school, claiming they know who killed Chris. When one of the girls takes it to detective Stephen, they immediately go to the school and start their interviewing process all over. They have their suspects down to, two group of girls, which turns out they hate each other. So here is where the game starts and the girls are throwing these detectives in a long game of who did it.
What I really liked about this was that I never knew who actually did it, until the detectives knew. I had so many theories and suspicions that just happened to be wrong. I'm pretty good at this type of thing but when it comes to girl politics, it's pretty convoluted. They have so many games and stories, it's hard to figure out what is truth and what is a lie.
All I can say is, Wow! This whole book is about a close group of girls who will do anything for each other. I mean anything. I'm amazed at the length of what they do and lie about to help each other out. It's a no questions asked type of thing. They just do what they think is best for their friends. Although, this gets them into a lot of trouble that is unnecessary. If only they were honest with each other.
This was a lengthy book and I sometimes found myself getting a little bored with the excessive details. Usually, I like this sort of thing but I found myself getting a little impatient with the storyline. I think the fact that the whole entire book is based on one day, made it a little boring. They can only interview the girls and ask the same questions so many times. The interviews were really lengthy and there were a lot of redundant questions.
I did love the fact that she alternated chapters between the detectives in present day and the actual events told by the girls in the past. This way you kind of get tension going and throughout the book you get both sides. It kind of helps you figure out who did it, right before the detectives figure it out. You get the whole story and see what was going on that led the murder of Chris.