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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
I genuinely was not sure I would like this book, I thought it was maybe too light hearted from the first chapters I read, and that’s not my favorite. But wow what a unique idea that really adds a whimsy to the real world, and while the writing style is light hearted there is so much more depth to this book, and so much more I want to explore in this world. I really feel like I could happily pick this back up in a few years to relive this story and hopefully gleam new details as I go through.
On paper, this book is aimed straight for me. Fortuntely, it delivers. Portal fantasies! Sinister societies! True love!
Along with a split narrative, complete with footnotes. Historical fiction that doesn't make me gag.
The book follows the adventures of January Scaller, a young woman of color who is drawn to doors to other worlds, much to her guardian's consterntation. Takes place mostly in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Along with a split narrative, complete with footnotes. Historical fiction that doesn't make me gag.
The book follows the adventures of January Scaller, a young woman of color who is drawn to doors to other worlds, much to her guardian's consterntation. Takes place mostly in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
medium-paced
I'm a bit torn on this, and night adjust the rating again... It's somewhere between at least a three, bit a four at most...
I loved the writing style and prose.
I liked the idea is the world building, but it was way less important or well developed than I expected. It felt more like a basic background to make the story possible, than a fully fledged or "world" to fall into.
I enjoyed how I was blonde enough to not see the obvious twist coming - usually I'm good at that. Enjoyed the book much more from that point on.
It took me quite some time to really click with the characters, some just never really worked for me. But stayed a bit two dimensional. Like a scene setting more than actual people.
On the other side, I did enjoy the time I got to spend in another world, and would have loved to spend more time there.
So all in all, as I said, I'm torn... I did read it quickly and was hooked enough to read it in a matter of days, but I also never really fell in love with it....
I loved the writing style and prose.
I liked the idea is the world building, but it was way less important or well developed than I expected. It felt more like a basic background to make the story possible, than a fully fledged or "world" to fall into.
I enjoyed how I was blonde enough to not see the obvious twist coming - usually I'm good at that. Enjoyed the book much more from that point on.
It took me quite some time to really click with the characters, some just never really worked for me. But stayed a bit two dimensional. Like a scene setting more than actual people.
On the other side, I did enjoy the time I got to spend in another world, and would have loved to spend more time there.
So all in all, as I said, I'm torn... I did read it quickly and was hooked enough to read it in a matter of days, but I also never really fell in love with it....
adventurous
hopeful
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i read this book after seeing it on erin morgenstern’s instagram, and also for a book club. i’d heard really wonderful things about it, and am wondering if it was just overhyped, or if i would still have disliked it if i had picked it up without knowing anything about it. in all honesty, i was so frustrated with this book that i’m now doubting/questioning anyone who has ever recommended this book to me. i had to put the book down twice within the first chapter out of frustration — just because it’s set in a different time period doesn’t excuse the colorist/racist language/comments — and the whole experience just made me feel very “white woman trying to describe an experience she knows nothing about”. i think this book really could’ve benefited from a diversity/sensitivity reader, or five. i could’ve done without the abuse as well — it just felt very poorly done. even if i could put aside the OUTRIGHT RACISM, the writing style simply didn’t work for me, and i struggled to connect with january as a character. i honestly have no idea how this book got published in 2019.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
"That afternoon, sitting in that lonely field beside the Door that didn't lead anywhere, I wanted to write a different kind of story. A true kind of story, something I could crawl into if only I believed it hard enough."
This book was such a magical adventure. Harrow's writing style is so beautifully lyrical, I loved every minute of it and only hope she will write a sequel.
This book was such a magical adventure. Harrow's writing style is so beautifully lyrical, I loved every minute of it and only hope she will write a sequel.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No