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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
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
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was totally into the idea of a luxury train and that whole locked-in atmosphere. It felt really fresh and unique. However, there were a few things that I struggled to ignore. For one, I found the characters pretty unlikable, which made it hard for me to connect with the story. I did pick up some cool facts along the way that I appreciated, but by the end, I was left with some unanswered questions that kind of bugged me. If you can vibe with the characters, I think you’ll have a good time. I just couldn’t look past their flaws, haha.
3.5 rounded up
Thank you Atria for The Main Character, I really found myself engaged with a lot of the mystery of this story, I love a story that gives locked room vibes, a mysterious puppet master behind the scenes feeling, and add in a train setting and a book within a book/author theme... I am sold. I though Goldis offers a fun homage to these themes and Christie's Oriental Express while still being it's own story. I was hooked on the idea of a popular and powerful writer developing her stories through the lived experiences and interactions she has with a person/people she selects, it gave me an immediate sense of unease but also intrigue in the story.
What worked a little less for me were the multiple POVs, esp at the start of the story, as I had trouble getting to know each character, getting into the pace and rhythm of the story was a struggle as I tend to like to have a little more time to get into the story, to get to know the main character (pun intended) but overall this was a fun, escapist mystery, perfect for a train ride or an airport read during your summer travels!
Thank you Atria for The Main Character, I really found myself engaged with a lot of the mystery of this story, I love a story that gives locked room vibes, a mysterious puppet master behind the scenes feeling, and add in a train setting and a book within a book/author theme... I am sold. I though Goldis offers a fun homage to these themes and Christie's Oriental Express while still being it's own story. I was hooked on the idea of a popular and powerful writer developing her stories through the lived experiences and interactions she has with a person/people she selects, it gave me an immediate sense of unease but also intrigue in the story.
What worked a little less for me were the multiple POVs, esp at the start of the story, as I had trouble getting to know each character, getting into the pace and rhythm of the story was a struggle as I tend to like to have a little more time to get into the story, to get to know the main character (pun intended) but overall this was a fun, escapist mystery, perfect for a train ride or an airport read during your summer travels!
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I probably would have enjoyed this more if it wasn't compared to Agatha Christie ?? I literally don't understand why books sent themselves up for failure ??
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I LOVED The Chateau and I’m a big Agatha Christie fan, so I was very excited to see that Jaclyn Goldis’ latest was being compared to Christie’s novels. While The Main Charachter certainly nods to Christie’s works, I think it’s rather different. This is not your bread and butter murder mystery and I think going in with that expectation is a disservice. True, this has a murder and a mystery, but the pacing and the stakes differ from the typical formula. In my opinion, The Main Character is much more of a family drama, how our past influences our future and messy characters making messy decisions. Forgetting the comparison to Christie’s novels allowed me to truly appreciate the unique story that Goldis has crafted. And I really liked it. The setting is luscious, aboard the Orient Express and along various locations throughout Italy. The characters are compelling. I was propelled by the need to uncover who was lying to whom and why. And I absolutely loved the way Goldis expertly wove the history of antisemitism in the Soviet Union into the plot. It is a history that needs to be told now, more than ever.
Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC.
Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC.