Reviews

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

heartsdesire's review against another edition

2.0

Upon 30-40% the story disinterests me a lot so I just bounce on pages until it finishes.

nwordsmith's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.75

This was a masterfully crafted fairytale melding aspects of the uncanny and ordinary life seamlessly. It is never quite certain if the events are infused with a touch of the magical or merely things that really could happen. After reading it, I’m inclined to think it is both. As Neil Gaiman says, it doesn’t stop being magic just because you know how it works. I appreciated the cyclical nature of the story and how the narrative itself seemed the mirror the river in its ebb and flow ever onward. Beautiful imagery. Lovely prose. Incredibly well done. 

anna_ni's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

zoekitch's review against another edition

3.0

It was okay. I can see how somebody into slower more elusive books would enjoy, but not kicky enough for moi
some of the storylines and characters were cute, some lowkey didn’t add a ton..

librarian_kj's review against another edition

5.0

Bumped from 4 to 5 stars because I just can’t stop thinking about the beautiful storytelling of this book.

jaredrlopatin's review

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

sylvieb's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

old_man_niemand's review against another edition

Far to slow paced, even for a book I was told would be slow paced.

erinreadsbooks's review

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Reading this story felt a lot like listening to someone tell a story orally, like the storytellers at the Swan in the book. The narrative voice felt a bit removed, but heartfelt, as if they were telling a story about friends or family. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot as the mystery was uncovered and I liked the fairytale-esque feel of it all. 

Read if you like magical realism and historical fiction that feels a bit like a fable or fairytale. 

elviebird's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5