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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I don't understand why The Night Circus keeps being mentioned in relation to this book, it's about as useful as saying the Harry Potter books are similar to Mallory Towers because they both have boarding schools in them.
There is no magic realism here: it is a book about the very worst that humans are capable of, and is really rather harrowing in places. If you're likely to be upset about animals meeting grim fates then AVOID. I wish I had.
There is no magic realism here: it is a book about the very worst that humans are capable of, and is really rather harrowing in places. If you're likely to be upset about animals meeting grim fates then AVOID. I wish I had.
First thoughts after finishing it: Yeah good time i cried
The switch between sections of first person POV (& chapters alternating between Coralie and Eddie) and then third person was definitely odd but I ended up really really liking the choice. It fit to have the sections of learning they’re separate histories, and especially recollections of the events before, being in first person and using those sections to dive into the characters' minds and feelings to develop them. I usually hate first person but the fact that the entire book wasn’t in first and that POV served an actual purpose made me enjoy and appreciate it.
The story itself – it just.. hurt in a good way. It was the same kind of pretty prose that hurt that The Immortalists (by Chloe Benjamin) had. Very much enjoy that genre!
The switch between sections of first person POV (& chapters alternating between Coralie and Eddie) and then third person was definitely odd but I ended up really really liking the choice. It fit to have the sections of learning they’re separate histories, and especially recollections of the events before, being in first person and using those sections to dive into the characters' minds and feelings to develop them. I usually hate first person but the fact that the entire book wasn’t in first and that POV served an actual purpose made me enjoy and appreciate it.
The story itself – it just.. hurt in a good way. It was the same kind of pretty prose that hurt that The Immortalists (by Chloe Benjamin) had. Very much enjoy that genre!
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interesting story, but I didn’t like how the story jumped back and forth between timelines and characters- it didn’t feel organized. The fire at the end made me so sad. I don’t trust authors who kill animals in their books. Book #16 in 2025
One of my favorite author's. She weaves 2 NYC historical fires into this fascinating story of NYC in the early 1900's.
I would give this novel 5 stars if not for the ending, which I felt was so rushed. Even so I'd still peg it at 4.5 stars, but because such an otherwise fantastic novel really deserved more of a closing I knocked off an entire star. Nevertheless, it earned a spot on my favorites shelf because of the wonderful prose and character building of our two protagonists Coralie and Eddie. I also really just seem to gravitate towards stories set in late 1800's/early 1900's. Even better, this one touched on social justice issues such as worker's rights, women's rights, and the atrocities and exploitation that are (and continue to be) committed by those of means against those who have none.
I really loved this book. A lot of history was in here along with great colorful characters.
Started out a little slow but picked up and ended up being a really good book.