Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Got 200 pages through this 500+ page novel, and just didn't have the will to read further. The book starts in 1947, then goes back to 1944, with the last section taking place in 1941. I wanted to see how she'd accomplish that, but just wasn't interested in the characters, who are people who DO things, not real people. And the language itself has no special grace, insight, or beauty to make me want to read further.
A few years ago, I stayed up two nights in a row because of Waters' Fingersmith. I couldn't put it down. The Night Watch doesn't have that book's incredibly fun twist in the middle, but the story's "backwards" construction showcases yet again Sarah Waters' skills as a writer. She's one of the modern masters of plot, pacing and atmosphere.
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Extremely well written. Gives a glimpse of individual challenges to those living during the Blitz of London
As always with Waters, it's richly detailed both in period setting and in emotion, and the lives of historical queers come through so strongly. Fewer "shocking" plot twists than some others of hers, but the conceit of telling the story backward in time is interesting and well done, and the subtle weaving in and out of these (mostly) strangers' lives against the backdrop of WWII London and the constant bombing is lovely.
A story of the intertwined lives of four individuals in London during World War II. Had I realized ahead of time that this were the setting, I wouldn't have read it; it's a historical period I prefer to avoid in fiction. That reservation made it difficult for me to immerse myself, which is something that Waters's work requires. (Audio was also a mistake. The narration is strong, but it's just so long.) This is a melodrama, heightened and lengthened; the living diversity of the queer characters adds depth to the tone, and Waters has a phenomenal grasp of lengthy, intimate scenes, both mundane and dramatic, which stylize the human condition. But I found this laborious. The reverse chronological narration is a gimmick--an intentional, even lampshaded one; it's occasionally effective, but it made me wish for something like the suspense in The Handmaiden. And so: a fine book but the wrong reader; I found it fairly unremarkable.
Couldn't even finish it. The characters are so boring. Trying to make them all interesting and mysterious while moving backwards every few years didn't work. It was very annoying to have gone 235 pages with nothing but vague conversations between characters and descriptions of situations but no real substance. Very, very bored.
A novel set during the second world war. Rich in detail, sad, and gloriously queer.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Abortion, War
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Medical content, Suicide attempt
Minor: Racial slurs