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leonie's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, and Child death
mybookishhedgemaze's review
dark
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If I were rating this on the story alone, I'd probably give "The Lamplighters" 4/5 stars. As it is, three feels generous.
Aside from the contrived metaphors and similes...some so painfully forced I had to pause and laugh over them in disbelief or embarrassment, which destroyed any immersion the writer may have been trying to achieve...the over-used or ill-suited onomatopoeia, and the vague insinuations of supernatural influence or encounters, the gratuitous swearing was a literary turn-off. Using the infamous f-bomb as a noun, adjective, and verb isn't clever or original, it's actually the complete opposite and gives the distinct impression that the character or, more accurately, the *writer* is shockingly illiterate and at a loss for intelligent narrative.
Add to that the vast panoply of locker-room slang and insults, random and poorly executed stream-of-consciousness (or perhaps very well *executed* in an entirely different sense), senseless red herrings, bland, predictable plot twists, and the ever-changing character perspectives and metronomic swinging from decade to decade...all of this made for an impressively tiresome book. My Mum and I are thrilled to be done with it!
I *will* say that Arthur's poem was hauntingly lovely, but that's all I really can say.
Aside from the contrived metaphors and similes...some so painfully forced I had to pause and laugh over them in disbelief or embarrassment, which destroyed any immersion the writer may have been trying to achieve...the over-used or ill-suited onomatopoeia, and the vague insinuations of supernatural influence or encounters, the gratuitous swearing was a literary turn-off. Using the infamous f-bomb as a noun, adjective, and verb isn't clever or original, it's actually the complete opposite and gives the distinct impression that the character or, more accurately, the *writer* is shockingly illiterate and at a loss for intelligent narrative.
Add to that the vast panoply of locker-room slang and insults, random and poorly executed stream-of-consciousness (or perhaps very well *executed* in an entirely different sense), senseless red herrings, bland, predictable plot twists, and the ever-changing character perspectives and metronomic swinging from decade to decade...all of this made for an impressively tiresome book. My Mum and I are thrilled to be done with it!
I *will* say that Arthur's poem was hauntingly lovely, but that's all I really can say.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship
mbarranco's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was slow to start and the the last 2/3 of the book picked up. Also, there were some parts I skipped over because it was too much .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, and Stalking
librariangeorgia's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Infidelity
jenk2020's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
Overall - 4.1/5
Story - 4/5
Writing - 4.5/5
Character - 4.5/5
Memorability - 3.5/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Would I read again? Yes
First things first, I listened to the audio and it is fantastic. Narrated by Tom Burke and Indira Varma, its one of the best narrated audiobooks I've listened to. This book was a pleasant surprise as I'd gone in expecting a gothic, historical fiction, mystery and we kind of get that but it's much more an exploration of the people left behind when tradegy strikes. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but its wasn't an interview style narration, but this does lend itself wonderfully to audio. Emma Stonex's writing is a real treat and the claustrophobic lighthouse and the threat of the ocean is really well realised. I loved it and look forward to seeing what she does next.
Story - 4/5
Writing - 4.5/5
Character - 4.5/5
Memorability - 3.5/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Would I read again? Yes
First things first, I listened to the audio and it is fantastic. Narrated by Tom Burke and Indira Varma, its one of the best narrated audiobooks I've listened to. This book was a pleasant surprise as I'd gone in expecting a gothic, historical fiction, mystery and we kind of get that but it's much more an exploration of the people left behind when tradegy strikes. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but its wasn't an interview style narration, but this does lend itself wonderfully to audio. Emma Stonex's writing is a real treat and the claustrophobic lighthouse and the threat of the ocean is really well realised. I loved it and look forward to seeing what she does next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
jenniferw88's review
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Animal death and Child death