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tatyanavogt's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book, but didn't love it. I kinda ended it feeling like.. well, I dont know how I feel about it. And that feeling has never resolved itself, I just dont really care anymore to figure it out. Now part of me wants to give it a 3 star because of this but when I think to how much I enjoyed part of the experience I feel like a low 4 star is more fitting.
This is a dark academia book about a girl, who after trying to escape from her past, finds herself at this prestigious boarding school that requires all of the students to give up on the outside world for 3 years and make Catherine house their 100% until they graduate. I think the concept was interesting, and even some of the 'mundane' way of revealing things about this school was wonderfully unsettling in a nice subtle way. But I think I just needed a little something more.
I did like the twist and didn't mind the ending necessarily but I needed something else to push it to a 5 for me. I still liked it despite me feeling unsure about the book, so that says something.
This is a dark academia book about a girl, who after trying to escape from her past, finds herself at this prestigious boarding school that requires all of the students to give up on the outside world for 3 years and make Catherine house their 100% until they graduate. I think the concept was interesting, and even some of the 'mundane' way of revealing things about this school was wonderfully unsettling in a nice subtle way. But I think I just needed a little something more.
I did like the twist and didn't mind the ending necessarily but I needed something else to push it to a 5 for me. I still liked it despite me feeling unsure about the book, so that says something.
moth_dance's review against another edition
3.0
Compelling, but not exactly everything I wanted it to be.
I wish Elisabeth Thomas went full gothic haunted house. Or maybe she should've leaned into more SF elements? Or just leave out the plasm subplot all together? This feeling might just be my lingering desire for more insane speculative-academia books like [b:Bunny|42815544|Bunny|Mona Awad|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544742360l/42815544._SY75_.jpg|58221942].
At one point Ines was feeling a lot like Euphoria's Rue, and that was really fucking exciting! Sadly, she felt washed out and boring towards the final pages...
(tbh the ways in which Catherine is set-up reminded me of my graduate program at NYU's Gallatin, and that was hitting too close for comfort at the moment...)
I wish Elisabeth Thomas went full gothic haunted house. Or maybe she should've leaned into more SF elements? Or just leave out the plasm subplot all together? This feeling might just be my lingering desire for more insane speculative-academia books like [b:Bunny|42815544|Bunny|Mona Awad|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544742360l/42815544._SY75_.jpg|58221942].
At one point Ines was feeling a lot like Euphoria's Rue, and that was really fucking exciting! Sadly, she felt washed out and boring towards the final pages...
(tbh the ways in which Catherine is set-up reminded me of my graduate program at NYU's Gallatin, and that was hitting too close for comfort at the moment...)
darkcornerofthelibrary's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
cartogram's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
pikaneal's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.75
joana_stormblessed's review against another edition
3.0
more like 2.75 because of the ending but i had a good time all the way through
sam556889's review against another edition
2.0
I had higher hopes for this novel after reading the description, however, it ended up not being my cup of tea. It reminded me of "The Secret History by Donna Tartt" but without the depth to make the storyline flourish as well as lacking much development across all of the characters. It made me feel that the world (that which is in the book) was rather gray and lacked hope. If that was the goal of the story it did a great job, but because of those two things combined it ended up not being a book I enjoyed.
cmdufresne's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted the thrilling gothic-infused suspense this book is described as and it falls a little flat. The writing is well done, and the characters are interesting, but there is basically no plot and I got bored waiting for something to happen.
gardner0214's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When I watched Moe Black's Youtube video about The Secret History by Donna Tartt, I marveled at this eloquent, intelligent, cool lady talk for three and half hours passionately about dark academia. I thought to myself, 'I should share her love for this kind of literature... but I don't. Why don't I? What is wrong with me?' This has weighed heavy on my soul as I can never achieve cool, dark-academia girl status. But then I picked up this book and I got it. I immediately got it.
I love you Catherine House, mi Amor.
I love you Catherine House, mi Amor.