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theburningclem's review against another edition
5.0
The most emotionally compelling work of Agatha Christie’s I’ve ever read. And I’ve read almost all of them.
It’s a devastating psychological breakdown following a woman trapped in an empty foreign place and forced to stare inward. With nothing to focus her mind on, she endeavors to recall happy memories, only to realize that everything she thought was happy was merely her imagination. It’s a tragedy of such bottom-dropping-out-of-your-stomach desperation as to verge on horror.
It’s a devastating psychological breakdown following a woman trapped in an empty foreign place and forced to stare inward. With nothing to focus her mind on, she endeavors to recall happy memories, only to realize that everything she thought was happy was merely her imagination. It’s a tragedy of such bottom-dropping-out-of-your-stomach desperation as to verge on horror.
vegetablemathematics's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nesa42's review against another edition
4.0
The most dangerous and frightening monsters are the ones that don't seem to be what they really are. Absent in the spring masterfully recounts the terrifying experience of what happens when one of those monsters looks in the mirror and realizes what she is.
Joan Scudamore prefers living in a world of lies than letting the harsh reality destroy her perfect life. She's an empty person who lives in a glass castle she built all by herself so long ago that she genuinely believes it’s made of solid rock. And the mirages of the desert are more real than her whole life. Joan is safe from reality, but this castle has cost her her soul. Time has passed, but she’s been left behind. Joan, the eternal little girl dressed as a woman, the eternal wolf in sheep’s clothing. The monster who stabs her loved ones with a knife (metaphorically speaking) while assuring them she does it for their own good.
Joan doesn’t murder people, but she does murder their souls and spirits, leaving them as empty as her. Joan refuses to let her castle collapse, so she forces everyone to work twice as hard to maintain her fragile illusion. She’s so used to living like this, that her family knows that discovering the truth will kill her, so they decide to play along. They pretend to be actors on a stage with a demanding and impassive audience. As long as her family helps her maintain the illusion, as long as the actors play their roles, Joan and her castle are safe.
But, one day, Joan is left completely alone. This is when her castle starts to crack. Glass is fragile, but once broken it can cut and wound. This is Joan's last chance to accept the truth and rebuild her life, but will she take it? Will she choose her glass castle or the first stone of something truly real? Eyes closed or wide open? Blue pill or red pill? Her lies or her soul?
Joan Scudamore prefers living in a world of lies than letting the harsh reality destroy her perfect life. She's an empty person who lives in a glass castle she built all by herself so long ago that she genuinely believes it’s made of solid rock. And the mirages of the desert are more real than her whole life. Joan is safe from reality, but this castle has cost her her soul. Time has passed, but she’s been left behind. Joan, the eternal little girl dressed as a woman, the eternal wolf in sheep’s clothing. The monster who stabs her loved ones with a knife (metaphorically speaking) while assuring them she does it for their own good.
Joan doesn’t murder people, but she does murder their souls and spirits, leaving them as empty as her. Joan refuses to let her castle collapse, so she forces everyone to work twice as hard to maintain her fragile illusion. She’s so used to living like this, that her family knows that discovering the truth will kill her, so they decide to play along. They pretend to be actors on a stage with a demanding and impassive audience. As long as her family helps her maintain the illusion, as long as the actors play their roles, Joan and her castle are safe.
But, one day, Joan is left completely alone. This is when her castle starts to crack. Glass is fragile, but once broken it can cut and wound. This is Joan's last chance to accept the truth and rebuild her life, but will she take it? Will she choose her glass castle or the first stone of something truly real? Eyes closed or wide open? Blue pill or red pill? Her lies or her soul?
katymitchell's review against another edition
reflective
medium-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
2.25
iphigenie72's review against another edition
5.0
Joan Scudamore is stranded in the desert waiting for a train for several days. This break from her busy life permits her to reevaluate her past. Will she be able to change?
Most of this story goes in the memories of Joan though the reader is encouraged to make his own discoveries; in fact, throughout the book we understand more about what's in Joan's life than she does. The characters were all interesting and it is easy to sympathize with them in their difficulties. I especially liked Rodney (Joan's husband), I understood him very well.
Joan does discover things about herself, things she has never even thought of. My emotions were very invested in this story and by the ending I had shed a tear or two. Brilliant fictional book about self-discovery.
Most of this story goes in the memories of Joan though the reader is encouraged to make his own discoveries; in fact, throughout the book we understand more about what's in Joan's life than she does. The characters were all interesting and it is easy to sympathize with them in their difficulties. I especially liked Rodney (Joan's husband), I understood him very well.
Joan does discover things about herself, things she has never even thought of. My emotions were very invested in this story and by the ending I had shed a tear or two. Brilliant fictional book about self-discovery.
ascrizzimartina's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sleepydoe's review against another edition
2.0
can't beleive my first full book of the year was so boring and stupid ughhh
like I get what was intended here but it was too much rich, white people drama for me to be impactful. wouldn't really recommend tbh
like I get what was intended here but it was too much rich, white people drama for me to be impactful. wouldn't really recommend tbh