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ruby_mae_read's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Child death
bookmark3brodi's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Abandonment, and Bullying
charnyreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Murder, Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, and Grief
stephaniereads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Maggie O'Farrell's third novel is about two people, Stella and Jake, who seek sanctuary at a very remote hotel in Scotland. They don't know each other, but are brought together. O'Farrell writes with a characteristic kaleidoscope of scenes that skip through time and place and slowly, very slowly, come together as a complete picture. We learn about Stella's unbreakable bond with her sister, her Italian family, and a secret the sisters have kept. Jake's story begins in Hong Kong with a terrible accident on Chinese New Year, and a kind mistake uproots his life.
It's all what I've come to know and love in O'Farrell's work. You're never reading the book you think you are! We get the wonderful settings of Hong Kong markets, a misty loch in Scotland, a cozy Italian cafe. Her characters have richly imagined backstories, and the almost choppy storytelling gives the novel such momentum - I just wanted to uncover all the secrets!
Not quite on par with some of her later work, but
I feel like with this one I could really see earlier versions of what she pulls off in later novels. I also want to revisit I Am, I Am, I Am (her memoir about near death experiences) because there are moments I remember from there that I found here in fiction form.
Really enjoyable to read! I only have her debut left now!
It's all what I've come to know and love in O'Farrell's work. You're never reading the book you think you are! We get the wonderful settings of Hong Kong markets, a misty loch in Scotland, a cozy Italian cafe. Her characters have richly imagined backstories, and the almost choppy storytelling gives the novel such momentum - I just wanted to uncover all the secrets!
Not quite on par with some of her later work, but
I feel like with this one I could really see earlier versions of what she pulls off in later novels. I also want to revisit I Am, I Am, I Am (her memoir about near death experiences) because there are moments I remember from there that I found here in fiction form.
Really enjoyable to read! I only have her debut left now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Chronic illness, and Bullying
Moderate: Xenophobia
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