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mattstebbins's review
3.0
Things I loved: Her descriptions of Antarctica. I'm a sucker for stark landscapes, for winter, for cold, and her descriptions of the barren white...I think winter in central Idaho is enough for me, but there are certainly times I can find myself romanticizing the bone deep cold of places like Alaska or Antarctica.
Things I didn't love: Pretty much everyone else. Getting myself through this proved a struggle. Outside of Roisin and Francois, I had no reason to care about any of the other characters, and even those two, central to the story, felt more like quick sketches toward an idea that full, rounded characters. Additionally, this story—lovers crossing paths across varied times and places—has been done, and this didn't measure up.
(For instance, I'm thinking of the varied characters of Cloud Atlas. Even if that book has plenty of issues, the characters across time and space thing is done much better there.)
Still, though, I can understand why some people love The Comet Seekers, and even if I didn't, I can cut a debut author a little bit of slack, especially because I appreciate the ambition.
[2.5 stars, mostly for effort.]
Things I didn't love: Pretty much everyone else. Getting myself through this proved a struggle. Outside of Roisin and Francois, I had no reason to care about any of the other characters, and even those two, central to the story, felt more like quick sketches toward an idea that full, rounded characters. Additionally, this story—lovers crossing paths across varied times and places—has been done, and this didn't measure up.
(For instance, I'm thinking of the varied characters of Cloud Atlas. Even if that book has plenty of issues, the characters across time and space thing is done much better there.)
Still, though, I can understand why some people love The Comet Seekers, and even if I didn't, I can cut a debut author a little bit of slack, especially because I appreciate the ambition.
[2.5 stars, mostly for effort.]
kmentillo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mollyrook's review
5.0
A beautiful, strange, and sad book that left me with tears in my eyes. Reading this book was like floating down a gentle river - you exert no effort at all, but are pulled through the story as it winds and flows. It is at once very small-scale, concerned exclusively with the fundamental relationships of a few people, and large-scale, concerned with a thousand years and the entire universe. I loved this book, and am grateful that it crossed my path.
cindymarie's review
5.0
I didn't know anything going into this book and honestly I feel like that made it better. I just loved the cover and saw that it was "magical realism" which interested me.
The story is told in vignettes and jumps around in time to different periods when this family saw this comet in the sky and what happened in their lives only while the comets were visible. It also follows two cousins and their forbidden love story. Normally I hate all of these things. I hate vignettes with a passion after having to read house on mango street in school. I hate time jumps that go back and forth and back again. And I'm not into incest at all. But I just freaking loved this book.
I love looking at the night sky and any time there is a comet or meteor shower or anything going on I will wake up in the middle of the night to see if I can see it. The people in this story keep watch on the sky for different reasons. While the comet is visible they can see their dead ancestors again. Having recently lost my dad I would love to have this gift.
I honestly don't think this book is for everyone, but it was definitely for me.
The story is told in vignettes and jumps around in time to different periods when this family saw this comet in the sky and what happened in their lives only while the comets were visible. It also follows two cousins and their forbidden love story. Normally I hate all of these things. I hate vignettes with a passion after having to read house on mango street in school. I hate time jumps that go back and forth and back again. And I'm not into incest at all. But I just freaking loved this book.
I love looking at the night sky and any time there is a comet or meteor shower or anything going on I will wake up in the middle of the night to see if I can see it. The people in this story keep watch on the sky for different reasons. While the comet is visible they can see their dead ancestors again. Having recently lost my dad I would love to have this gift.
I honestly don't think this book is for everyone, but it was definitely for me.
vmaniotis's review
5.0
One of the most poignant stories I have ever read. Beautifully woven between centuries of comets and the vastness of what it means to be family and to love. The harsh realities that sometimes love and a good heart aren’t enough. And the comforting sentiment that against all odds our families and our lives are more interwoven then we could ever understand. What a beautiful masterpiece for me, as I write this review while the tears dry on my cheeks.
cctheunicorn's review
5.0
I can’t believe 2019 me only gave this book 4 stars, this is one of my all time favourite books. This won’t be a book for everyone, I can understand a lot of the reviews on here stating that the story is a bit disjointed, but it doesn’t feel that way to me. I love fragmented story telling. I loved the short backstories of the ghosts. And it’s not often I’m rooting for two romantically involved cousins to make it work but here we are. This is sad, lovely and a bit whimsical, I love it.
ncostell's review against another edition
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
3.5
jennybeastie's review
I wanted this to be more historical fiction and less literary fiction. I chose poorly, as that is not what the book is. Not my cup of tea, so I did not read much of it, but the part I read was well written, atmospheric, and wonderfully evocative of place.
advanced reader's copy provided by edelweiss.
advanced reader's copy provided by edelweiss.