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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Frankly, I was getting bored. I could see where the story was going (or was supposed to go) but it was very slow going and rather convoluted. So I got fed up and looked up if I was right, which I was, so I decided to drop the book. I liked the characters but honestly that's about it
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I first learned about this book after I’d read about Pulley’s new release, "The Bedlam Stacks," which is due to be released on August 1, 2017. It sounded intriguing enough that I looked for her previous title. I snatched it up, and never have I been more pleased to have made a snap decision.
The thing I love most about the book is the language. The author has chosen words, phrases, and cadence that set the tone and mood of the story. Using words the way a painter uses paint, she proves herself a master of the art of writing.
Similar in tone and weight to "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell" by Susanna Clarke and "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street has become one of my new favorites and is a book I will take great pleasure in recommending.
The thing I love most about the book is the language. The author has chosen words, phrases, and cadence that set the tone and mood of the story. Using words the way a painter uses paint, she proves herself a master of the art of writing.
Similar in tone and weight to "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell" by Susanna Clarke and "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street has become one of my new favorites and is a book I will take great pleasure in recommending.
(3.75) this unfortunately suffered from the curse of me listening to the audiobook across a month leading to my experience being really fragmented, but most of the charm of it still came through. and a lot of really intriguing ideas, too, that did meander a little, but the mechanics and premise involved keep things tight enough! i'm excited to see where the sequel goes.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Mori makes me so sad you don't even KNOW.
I'm a bit torn on whether or not to give it the full 5 stars or not. On one hand I binged the last half or so because I couldn't put it down and was emotionally involved enough that some parts severely hurt my heart. On the other hand I did have some trouble with the writing, which made me straight up question if I'm as fluent in English as I thought myself to be. I had some trouble parsing tone or who was speaking sometimes. Then again no one else seems to share that problem based on the reviews so it might be on me.
I'll give it 5 for now cause I think I'm too stingy with 5 stars and I'll see how I feel later.
Now to order and impatiently await the second book because I really hadn't planned on finishing this tonight.
EDIT: Spent a significant amount of time while trying to fall asleep and my entire morning commute thinking about it, I'd say that qualifies it for 5 stars for sure.Mori's clairvoyance is so fascinating to me, on one hand it makes him insanely powerful but also somewhat at the mercy of probability/other people. Grace's actions messing him up to the point that he can barely speak English anymore cause everything became so improbable and the total disorientation piecing himself together is one thing but also little things like the song Thaniel didn't get the sheet music for or finding things he may have worked on or done and he doesn't remember. It's so interesting to think about in general. And it's such a cool narrative device too like Mori's accent or things circling around to his fear of heights. I have never been this emotionally invested in someone's accent before.
I'm a bit torn on whether or not to give it the full 5 stars or not. On one hand I binged the last half or so because I couldn't put it down and was emotionally involved enough that some parts severely hurt my heart. On the other hand I did have some trouble with the writing, which made me straight up question if I'm as fluent in English as I thought myself to be. I had some trouble parsing tone or who was speaking sometimes. Then again no one else seems to share that problem based on the reviews so it might be on me.
I'll give it 5 for now cause I think I'm too stingy with 5 stars and I'll see how I feel later.
Now to order and impatiently await the second book because I really hadn't planned on finishing this tonight.
EDIT: Spent a significant amount of time while trying to fall asleep and my entire morning commute thinking about it, I'd say that qualifies it for 5 stars for sure.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a cute little book. I think I probably enjoyed The Kingdoms better but this one had some of the same tropes which I enjoyed. Thaniel (oof that name) was interesting, and I really liked the way he described his synesthesia, I thought that was cool. I do think the way he dealt with Grace was...difficult, and not something I enjoyed.
And speaking of Grace...I disliked her very much. I get that being a woman at this time (late 1800's) who wanted to pursue STEM subjects was very difficult, and I do understand that. However, I think that we just didn't spend enough time with her (which, like, I'm totally fine with honestly) to really get her to click. She was spiteful to her parents which on one level is understandable (because they're terrible) but since we didn't really get to spend a lot of time with it just came off as petty and mean. Her relationship to Matsumoto was confusing--he gave off weird energy whenever they were together and seemed to belittle her constantly, and in not a fun, teasing way, but like a mean way. And by the time
Mori was probably my favorite character, there was something achingly sad about him that I enjoyed. And even after everything he did something nice for Grace, which she hardly deserved. Oh! Also, I think this book would probably benefit from a second reading--I get the feeling that, like Mori's gift of foresight, reading it knowing what will happen will give it a different flavor. I don't think I will, but it might be interesting to others.
And speaking of Grace...I disliked her very much. I get that being a woman at this time (late 1800's) who wanted to pursue STEM subjects was very difficult, and I do understand that. However, I think that we just didn't spend enough time with her (which, like, I'm totally fine with honestly) to really get her to click. She was spiteful to her parents which on one level is understandable (because they're terrible) but since we didn't really get to spend a lot of time with it just came off as petty and mean. Her relationship to Matsumoto was confusing--he gave off weird energy whenever they were together and seemed to belittle her constantly, and in not a fun, teasing way, but like a mean way. And by the time
Spoiler
Grace stole my precious Katsu and then BLEW HIM UP I was like nah, you suck lady. And I never quite understood why she did that in the first place...was she trying to prove something? That Mori was orchestrating this whole thing? She goes from trying to seduce Thaniel on their wedding night to being angry when she finds him with Mori (on their wedding night...oof Thaniel) to running around the city to save his future soul so that she doesn't turn him into a characterless husk of a person...I think...I dunno, I didn't like it. But fuck you for taking Katsu you monsterMori was probably my favorite character, there was something achingly sad about him that I enjoyed. And even after everything he did something nice for Grace, which she hardly deserved. Oh! Also, I think this book would probably benefit from a second reading--I get the feeling that, like Mori's gift of foresight, reading it knowing what will happen will give it a different flavor. I don't think I will, but it might be interesting to others.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Read this book at some point 6-10ish years ago and remembered liking it but forgot almost everything. So glad I re-read! A captivating story, magical world building, and wonderful historical setting. I read this book in summer but it would be amazing curled up with a pot of tea or cocoa while snow falls outside
I forgot this was a gay love story!!