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pipita's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
mono_86's review
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
rawleyloftus's review against another edition
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
minnieb99's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Absolutely worth checking out, but it is a very difficult book to review.
On one hand the themes, the historical accuracy and the dialogues make it an excellent book, but on the other hand the execution and the writing bring it down significantly.
In particular, I didn't like the alternaiting povs all that much, especially because almost every chapter begins with half a page of very scholastic description of the scene.
Moreover I had a very hard time moving past the fact that the narrative opened with a character dreaming.
That said, it is an exceptionally important book and it explores the dynamics between the characters perfectly so much so that some of the scenes packed such a punch that i had to close the book and stare at the wall for a while.
It gives the reader the chance to think about these issues through the lens of people of the 19th century.
In my opinion, the manuscript needed a bit more work in the editing stages and it suffered from the inexperience of the author who tends to be more of an historian than a writer.
In conclusion I would say that it is the kind of book that makes you happy to have read it but that isn't necessarily overly enjoyable to read. The ideas it exposes however totally make up for what it lacks in execution.
On one hand the themes, the historical accuracy and the dialogues make it an excellent book, but on the other hand the execution and the writing bring it down significantly.
In particular, I didn't like the alternaiting povs all that much, especially because almost every chapter begins with half a page of very scholastic description of the scene.
Moreover I had a very hard time moving past the fact that the narrative opened with a character dreaming.
That said, it is an exceptionally important book and it explores the dynamics between the characters perfectly so much so that some of the scenes packed such a punch that i had to close the book and stare at the wall for a while.
It gives the reader the chance to think about these issues through the lens of people of the 19th century.
In my opinion, the manuscript needed a bit more work in the editing stages and it suffered from the inexperience of the author who tends to be more of an historian than a writer.
In conclusion I would say that it is the kind of book that makes you happy to have read it but that isn't necessarily overly enjoyable to read. The ideas it exposes however totally make up for what it lacks in execution.
stevmwhite's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bibliobethreads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
harrietpickle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
starfleeting's review against another edition
1.0
DNF'd.
It really sucks because I was hyped for this after reading the premise and it seemed right up my alley. Unfortunately, the writing did not jive with me at all and the story was not what I thought it was going to be.
The writing isn't terrible, but a case could definitely be made for overwriting/repeating for the sake of repeating. All in all, it's just not for me.
It really sucks because I was hyped for this after reading the premise and it seemed right up my alley. Unfortunately, the writing did not jive with me at all and the story was not what I thought it was going to be.
The writing isn't terrible, but a case could definitely be made for overwriting/repeating for the sake of repeating. All in all, it's just not for me.
johncairns's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A beautiful novel by Crewe, and I wasn’t aware until halfway through that it was (at least partly) based on real people, which made it all the more special! I loved this book although I will say that the pacing was a times a bit slow