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laurenleigh's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Is there a more satisfying feeling than finally crossing a book off your TBR? Especially when it’s been there for years?! This deeply atmospheric novel did not disappoint. I only wish I had read it in the winter though. Its slow pace, its setting in the moors, and its numerous mentions of cocoa made me wish I was curled up in wool socks by the fire while reading this somewhat spooky tale. It wasn’t quite in sync with my summer vibes at the moment. If you’re a fan of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, or just a true lover of fiction in general, I recommend this one. It’s not just an homage to those classic works of literature, it celebrates that we all have our own stories to tell. Our birth and our life are a tale we’re constantly editing and inevitably mythologizing. We don’t even know ourselves what is “truth” and what is fiction at some moments, but there’s a magic nonetheless in finding special people to whom you can trust your story. The audiobook was lovely, and both narrators had terrific English accents. The ending was completely satisfying, which can ring false for me sometimes, but felt perfectly in keeping with this book’s trajectory.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Rape, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
mariebrunelm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
When I decided to gift this book to a friend, I thought I might as well re-read it before parting with it. Dear me, I had forgotten how dark it was! But it's also a very elegant book, for reasons I can't quite point to.
The story is that of Margaret, a antique book seller who dabbles in biography writing for unknown people of the 19th century. One day she receives a very special invitation in the post: Vida Winter, the most famous writer of her generation, asks her to write her biography after years of misleading journalists about her past. There ensues a story about the stories we tell ourselves, those that shape us and those that we hide. It's an extremely dark character study of two women shaped by trauma and grief for things they can't always identify. But it's also a fabulous hommage to the power of literature.
Rep: lesbian MC.
The story is that of Margaret, a antique book seller who dabbles in biography writing for unknown people of the 19th century. One day she receives a very special invitation in the post: Vida Winter, the most famous writer of her generation, asks her to write her biography after years of misleading journalists about her past. There ensues a story about the stories we tell ourselves, those that shape us and those that we hide. It's an extremely dark character study of two women shaped by trauma and grief for things they can't always identify. But it's also a fabulous hommage to the power of literature.
Rep: lesbian MC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
anni_swanilda's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Excrement, Vomit, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Incest and Forced institutionalization
booksteaandchocolate's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh man this book is a wild freaking ride.
I went into this book knowing very little and to be honest I think that is the best way for someone to read this book. To say the least most people say its a mystery of why an author picks this woman to be her biographer, but I would greatly disagree with that. This book is more of a story about siblings and their relationships. Its hard to explain it without giving anything away so I will leave it be.
After reading it you are left with this compulsion to read it again so you can read it with the knowledge of what's actually happening and see it with new eyes. I kept having to jump back and forth because I kept trying to connect scenes.
The book is soooo atmospheric and has a very gothic feeling to the writing. I really love how immersive it feels.
I was so freaking emotional at the end of the book that it was a bit ridiculous. Even with how dark and twisted the whole story is you feel so much compassion for the characters and hearing their stories can be a little overwhelming. I truly loved the entire experience though. I highly recommend this to any gothic readers or mystery lovers. Such a good book.
I went into this book knowing very little and to be honest I think that is the best way for someone to read this book. To say the least most people say its a mystery of why an author picks this woman to be her biographer, but I would greatly disagree with that. This book is more of a story about siblings and their relationships. Its hard to explain it without giving anything away so I will leave it be.
After reading it you are left with this compulsion to read it again so you can read it with the knowledge of what's actually happening and see it with new eyes. I kept having to jump back and forth because I kept trying to connect scenes.
The book is soooo atmospheric and has a very gothic feeling to the writing. I really love how immersive it feels.
I was so freaking emotional at the end of the book that it was a bit ridiculous. Even with how dark and twisted the whole story is you feel so much compassion for the characters and hearing their stories can be a little overwhelming. I truly loved the entire experience though. I highly recommend this to any gothic readers or mystery lovers. Such a good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Terminal illness
Minor: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Vomit
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