Reviews

The Comet Seekers by Helen Sedgwick

chenoadallen's review

2.0

How can a book about Antarctica and ghosts be boring? I don't know, but apparently this author does. I was just too bored to finish, and the I really didn't like the characters.

vanessagatsby's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

c8_19's review against another edition

medium-paced

1.0

This was a...peculiar book. I thought it'd get at least two stars because it was fairly okay, but the last 100 pages just took a jump. Off a roof. Also some characters may have done that, too, and I don't get it.

I was interested in some of what was going on with Severine, Francois, and their extended, historical family, but I was not invested in Roisin and Liam's thread. Maybe it was because theirs didn't have the magic realism piece to it. Maybe it was just boring, and it's as simple as that.

I was reminded of two things while reading this. The first was that this writing style and how these characters were depicted reminded me of Lily Tuck pieces. Sadly, not a positive connotation in my experience. And second was that this made me think of People of the Book (Brooks). Brooks' book was about tracing a historical text's existence as time passed and it connected all these different people in a unique way. In this piece, various comets throughout time anchor different moments in characters' lives. Theoretically, a curious concept. Fell a bit flat for me.

sdillon's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

3.5

shonami's review against another edition

mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

amethyst_hearts_books's review

1.0

First, I listened to the audiobook. The narration itself wasn't bad, though I cringed a little at the French accents and a LOT at the one Canadian accent. I think the Irish accents were fine, but I don't know them as well. Her voice in itself was lovely. I wish she had not added French accents to the French speakers.

I didn't like this book. One thing that held me back was the cousins thing. I just... it didn't work, for me. I also didn't get the Liam character at all.

I'm not all that interested in comets, which means I was bored by a lot of the book. I really didn't get the comets/family connection, and I ended up making fun of the book more than anything else.

I just didn't like it. I didn't get it. It wasn't for me.

sophiegs's review against another edition

mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest and Grief

Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent

theinkdrinker's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

miastr's review

emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

there are lots of stories in this book, not just the one the book tells. unfortunately, those untold stories could have been a lot more interesting. 

also, i couldn’t see past the main love story - it was unnecessary, i think. i can’t see why more people aren’t talking about it.

sierrarain03's review

4.0

It was a pretty good book! The different story lines and time jumps confused me at first but i got used to it and it was very nice to read. The writing is beautiful!