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billymac1962's review against another edition
2.0
This was a Christmas gift from my mom, and it is also one that I would have bought for myself.
It won several international awards, and the back cover and inside pages are lush with glowing reviews from across the literary landscape of esteemed writers and reviewers.
(You can see where I'm going with this, can't you?)
It's a story that roots itself, for the most part, in my birthplace, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia And, it's a novelization about the MacDonald clan! This novel had so much going for it for me before I even cracked the cover open that it pains me now to write a disappointed review.
Not that it was that bad, but because it wasn't that great. There were some nice observances and some good imagery, but I don't know, the novel as a whole just had a certain blandness to it and didn't really do a whole lot for me.
It was short, so not a lot of time to devote to it so sure, give it a shot if you want. Who knows, you just may respond like the Globe and Mail reviewer who called this the book of the decade. Funny, I seem to find all "great writers (Ondaatje, etc.)" terribly bland and uninteresting. Maybe ahm jus' stoopid.
It won several international awards, and the back cover and inside pages are lush with glowing reviews from across the literary landscape of esteemed writers and reviewers.
(You can see where I'm going with this, can't you?)
It's a story that roots itself, for the most part, in my birthplace, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia And, it's a novelization about the MacDonald clan! This novel had so much going for it for me before I even cracked the cover open that it pains me now to write a disappointed review.
Not that it was that bad, but because it wasn't that great. There were some nice observances and some good imagery, but I don't know, the novel as a whole just had a certain blandness to it and didn't really do a whole lot for me.
It was short, so not a lot of time to devote to it so sure, give it a shot if you want. Who knows, you just may respond like the Globe and Mail reviewer who called this the book of the decade. Funny, I seem to find all "great writers (Ondaatje, etc.)" terribly bland and uninteresting. Maybe ahm jus' stoopid.
mooncation's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I think the writing is excellent but unless you're entirely invested in Canadiana, I found it pretty slow.
birdieegan's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
sgusername39's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
cimorene1558's review against another edition
5.0
Read this many years ago for one of my Celtic Studies classes. It's an excellent and heartbreaking book.
nipnock's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
whalesharkandme's review against another edition
3.0
Such an incredible book. I have to say it is one of the best one's I'ver read. I had to read through my tears at the end. Alistair MacLeod is an excellent story teller. I am so happy I picked this one up.
mimster's review against another edition
4.0
Better than I’d expected - mix of historic and contemporary story
kendra_reads_24's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5