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3.14 AVERAGE
3.14 AVERAGE
I have returned over and over again to Diane Setterfield's "The Thirteenth Tale." I waited for years for her to write something else. I loved her storytelling, her writing style and everything about The Thirteenth Tale.
THIS was something else entirely. I gave up after 30 pages.
THIS was something else entirely. I gave up after 30 pages.
Four friends are spending the summer months together when they come across a rook half a field away. William Bellman reckons he can hit it. Charles, Fred and Luke believe otherwise. A small round stone, a loved slingshot, a good aim, a perfect arc. The bird falls. And here begins William's journey into adulthood and then old age, always followed by a man named Black.
My description of this book doesn't give it justice, but I don't exactly know how to explain what this book is about. What I can say is this: it is not a ghost story. This was marketed as a ghost story, and indeed some of the editions on goodreads titles this as Bellman & Black: A Ghost Story, my edition is simply Bellman & Black. Even so, I was expecting some ghosts, a bit of horror, but I didn't get any of that. That's the fault of the publishers, not the author, but it still makes me lower my rating a bit because I didn't get what I wanted and what I was told I was going to get. Still this is an enjoyable novel.
For me, Bellman & Black was a really quick read. Every time I picked this up, for maybe half an hour or a couple of minutes during the adverts while I was watching a TV show, I found that I was flying through the pages. I loved Diane Setterfield's style of writing, it was very easy to read and she did well with making the reader read between the lines without making things confusing.
William Bellman was an interesting character to read about and I enjoyed the tale of his life. I wasn't as attached to him as I'd have liked, but he was still one of those obsessive personalities where his making was also his downfall. I really enjoyed the side characters as well, his colleagues, his family, his friends. All really nice and interesting people. The story itself wasn't particularly special but still enjoyable. The rook parts were very intriguing, and I really liked the very last one.
I think who Black is, is, to me anyway, definitely open to interpretation.
Having read this, I'd definitely pick up Setterfield's other book, The Thirteenth Tale, I really like her writing and her storytelling. All in all, I'd recommend this book, but just know that if you're looking for a ghost story you'll be disappointed if you read this.
My description of this book doesn't give it justice, but I don't exactly know how to explain what this book is about. What I can say is this: it is not a ghost story. This was marketed as a ghost story, and indeed some of the editions on goodreads titles this as Bellman & Black: A Ghost Story, my edition is simply Bellman & Black. Even so, I was expecting some ghosts, a bit of horror, but I didn't get any of that. That's the fault of the publishers, not the author, but it still makes me lower my rating a bit because I didn't get what I wanted and what I was told I was going to get. Still this is an enjoyable novel.
For me, Bellman & Black was a really quick read. Every time I picked this up, for maybe half an hour or a couple of minutes during the adverts while I was watching a TV show, I found that I was flying through the pages. I loved Diane Setterfield's style of writing, it was very easy to read and she did well with making the reader read between the lines without making things confusing.
William Bellman was an interesting character to read about and I enjoyed the tale of his life. I wasn't as attached to him as I'd have liked, but he was still one of those obsessive personalities where his making was also his downfall. I really enjoyed the side characters as well, his colleagues, his family, his friends. All really nice and interesting people. The story itself wasn't particularly special but still enjoyable. The rook parts were very intriguing, and I really liked the very last one.
I think who Black is, is, to me anyway, definitely open to interpretation.
Spoiler
I'm still not sure what he represents. Death? Memory? I'm thinking probably Memory, or possibly Time, but more likely one of those than Death, since the myth of Memory and Time was told at the beginning of the book. I'm leaning towards Memory because Black shouts 'remember' at Bellman while he's dying, and it's Memory and Time that escort people to the afterlife when they die.Having read this, I'd definitely pick up Setterfield's other book, The Thirteenth Tale, I really like her writing and her storytelling. All in all, I'd recommend this book, but just know that if you're looking for a ghost story you'll be disappointed if you read this.
I got about 2/3 of the way through this one and then put it aside for other books and have not had the desire to come back to it. Enjoyed the first part, but the second part just did not hold my interest.
Was excited to read after The Thirteenth Tale, but this was disappointing. Enjoyable enough but ultimately dissatisfying.
When a debut novel is as striking as [b:The Thirteenth Tale|40440|The Thirteenth Tale|Diane Setterfield|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346267826s/40440.jpg|849453], and the follow-up is so highly anticipated, it is difficult not to compare the two. It is unfortunate that the sophomore effort comes up lacking in the comparison.
This was not a bad book, for what it was. It had the haunting, gothic tone that I expected. The change from the colorful, cheerful world of Part I to the dreary, mournful black and grey of Part II was sudden, but not jarring. The author clearly spent a great deal of effort on research and getting every detail perfect, much like the main character. I am someone who appreciates attention to detail, who revels in new facts and interesting information. I have been known to spend hours on spreadsheets and arithmetic in order to clear my head and consider a difficult problem or decision. I should have been able to relate to William Bellman. I should know, at least by the end, whether I like him or not. I should probably like his daughter, Dora, but I feel no attachment to either of them, positive or negative. I was not drawn into their world, and I was not compelled to stay there for any length of time. I spent several hours reading, but did not revisit these characters if the book was not in my hands. I find that disappointing, especially given how often I revisit Margaret and Vida and The Thirteenth Tale, even four years later.
I did not recognize the mystery or the ghost story. I can deduce who Mr. Black really was, of course, and I can see how certain characters are "haunted," but dreary tone aside, this novel did not have the Poe quality that The Thirteenth Tale had. I did not wonder, and mostly, I did not really care. It lacked suspense, and so lacked the thrill I had anticipated. Setterfield demonstrates an obvious fascination with the subject matter, particularly the rooks, but I feel as if this story was written for herself, whereas The Thirteenth Tale was written for someone else, to an audience. This book is a mirror turned the wrong way; The Thirteenth Tale is a window.
I do, however, look forward to her next project, whatever it might be. I appreciate her painstaking attention to detail, and I suspect and hope she will put it to even better use in future writing.
This was not a bad book, for what it was. It had the haunting, gothic tone that I expected. The change from the colorful, cheerful world of Part I to the dreary, mournful black and grey of Part II was sudden, but not jarring. The author clearly spent a great deal of effort on research and getting every detail perfect, much like the main character. I am someone who appreciates attention to detail, who revels in new facts and interesting information. I have been known to spend hours on spreadsheets and arithmetic in order to clear my head and consider a difficult problem or decision. I should have been able to relate to William Bellman. I should know, at least by the end, whether I like him or not. I should probably like his daughter, Dora, but I feel no attachment to either of them, positive or negative. I was not drawn into their world, and I was not compelled to stay there for any length of time. I spent several hours reading, but did not revisit these characters if the book was not in my hands. I find that disappointing, especially given how often I revisit Margaret and Vida and The Thirteenth Tale, even four years later.
I did not recognize the mystery or the ghost story. I can deduce who Mr. Black really was, of course, and I can see how certain characters are "haunted," but dreary tone aside, this novel did not have the Poe quality that The Thirteenth Tale had. I did not wonder, and mostly, I did not really care. It lacked suspense, and so lacked the thrill I had anticipated. Setterfield demonstrates an obvious fascination with the subject matter, particularly the rooks, but I feel as if this story was written for herself, whereas The Thirteenth Tale was written for someone else, to an audience. This book is a mirror turned the wrong way; The Thirteenth Tale is a window.
I do, however, look forward to her next project, whatever it might be. I appreciate her painstaking attention to detail, and I suspect and hope she will put it to even better use in future writing.
Review first posted on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com/2013/10/bellman-black.html
The short description of this book says that it is the story of William
Bellman and how one action in his childhood has ramifications throughout his life. The subtitle of the book is "A Ghost Story." The book does not live up to that description and ends up in an entirely different place.
As a young man, William kills a rook with a slingshot. The reference to rooks appears throughout the book as a symbol in or commentary on the direction of William's life. As William grows up, his business sense leads to great wealth and great power. His personal life begins on a positive note. He is young, smart, and handsome. Life brings him love and success.
Tragedy falls and brings with it a bargain between William and a man named Black. That bargain leads to a new business and even greater professional success. Yet, what of his personal life? As William's success grows, what is the parallel impact on his person and his personal life?
To me, this entire book just simmers and never truly finds its grip. The anticipation of a big moment exists throughout the book; yet, the moment never comes. The book is called a ghost story, but it is not quite that. The book is based on the ramifications of a cruel childhood action, but the impact seems exaggerated. The book is about a mysterious bargain in a desperate moment, but that does not end up where you expect. The book in some descriptions is classified as horror, but it is not that other than the macabre business that William Bellman ends up in. The book in some descriptions is classified as historical fiction, but it not that either other than the descriptions that evoke a time and place. In other words, the book could have been a lot of things, but it never quite gets there.
The descriptions even the extensive ones about the Bellman business are enjoyable to read, and the dark somber atmosphere is created well and held through the bulk of the book. Thus, what saves the book is Diane Setterfield's writing.
*** Reviewed based on a publisher's galley received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
The short description of this book says that it is the story of William
Bellman and how one action in his childhood has ramifications throughout his life. The subtitle of the book is "A Ghost Story." The book does not live up to that description and ends up in an entirely different place.
As a young man, William kills a rook with a slingshot. The reference to rooks appears throughout the book as a symbol in or commentary on the direction of William's life. As William grows up, his business sense leads to great wealth and great power. His personal life begins on a positive note. He is young, smart, and handsome. Life brings him love and success.
Tragedy falls and brings with it a bargain between William and a man named Black. That bargain leads to a new business and even greater professional success. Yet, what of his personal life? As William's success grows, what is the parallel impact on his person and his personal life?
To me, this entire book just simmers and never truly finds its grip. The anticipation of a big moment exists throughout the book; yet, the moment never comes. The book is called a ghost story, but it is not quite that. The book is based on the ramifications of a cruel childhood action, but the impact seems exaggerated. The book is about a mysterious bargain in a desperate moment, but that does not end up where you expect. The book in some descriptions is classified as horror, but it is not that other than the macabre business that William Bellman ends up in. The book in some descriptions is classified as historical fiction, but it not that either other than the descriptions that evoke a time and place. In other words, the book could have been a lot of things, but it never quite gets there.
The descriptions even the extensive ones about the Bellman business are enjoyable to read, and the dark somber atmosphere is created well and held through the bulk of the book. Thus, what saves the book is Diane Setterfield's writing.
*** Reviewed based on a publisher's galley received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
I have never previously read a book by this author but i likened the writing. I like the story telling. I liked the little facts about the rooks. As well as the references to birds and humans. But it got to a part where I only cared about the birds and nothing else.
I feel like this book could have benefited if it had an actual plot. There’s no natural projection of the story. I found myself asking myself a lot during this book what the point. what was it leading to. It didn’t have much character development. The characters never really changed. The main character was a workaholic.
At the heart of it it was just a story about a guy who worked himself to death essentially. But the story didn’t have a message in the end. He worked insistently then died. Simple as that.
But I can see why this book doesn’t have good ratings it just meandered through everything.
Also this book is blurbed and tagged incorrectly there’s is no ghost or horror aspect mentioned anywhere in there.
I feel like this book could have benefited if it had an actual plot. There’s no natural projection of the story. I found myself asking myself a lot during this book what the point. what was it leading to. It didn’t have much character development. The characters never really changed. The main character was a workaholic.
At the heart of it it was just a story about a guy who worked himself to death essentially. But the story didn’t have a message in the end. He worked insistently then died. Simple as that.
But I can see why this book doesn’t have good ratings it just meandered through everything.
Also this book is blurbed and tagged incorrectly there’s is no ghost or horror aspect mentioned anywhere in there.
Between a 3.5 and a 4 really. I am quite pleased that I listened to this book narrated by Jack Davenport - it may be the best way to experience a dark gothic mystery such as this, with this man's fine voice and accent that made me feel transported to setting's time and place. I had been worried when I read a few of the not-so-good reviews, but I needn't have been. The detail of millwork was interesting, and William's success in seemingly single handedly making mourning over into a thriving industry was a bit thrilling. The portrayal of his business sense was quite fun. The climax falls a little flat, but the ending that follows is almost lyrical. I enjoyed this one.
Compelling writing that leads you deeper into a story so cunningly that it takes a while for you to wonder what the heck you are reading. A shiver worthy ghost story, perhaps, but it left me feeling a bit underwhelmed.
dark
sad
fast-paced