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3.14 AVERAGE
3.14 AVERAGE
Despite the fact that there is no real story contained within the beautiful cover I am strangely fond of this book. I don't know whether it's just my love for all things Victorian, the general flow of the words or the delightful references and insight into the Corvid world but something about this absolutely delighted me. This is a book more about setting and atmosphere than an in depth character driven story, which was a little disappointing, and I didn't find anything particularly chilling so not entirely sure why it's called a ghost story. But I really did love the Corvid sections, especially the final one where a group of humans is referred to as an 'entertainment'.
Everything of hers delights and entertains. Quickly becoming one of my favorites.
I CAN quit you! Read about 25% of this book. Like many others, I grew bored and quit. Nothing was happening except people were dying and then a rook would show up. Seriously. So disappointed. It was supposed to be a ghost story, but it's not.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you have read Diane Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale, then you already know gorgeous and evocative her writing is! When I heard of Bellman & Black, the one thing I had high expectations for was her beautiful prose, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Her writing even more engaging than I remembered, and it was a pleasure to follow her through the dark and gothic tale of William Bellman.
The setting was rich and the atmosphere really gripping. From the start, I was pulled into William’s life and I love how we followed him from childhood to his career to his own adult life. As readers, we got to witness most of William’s important life events, and even though it was quick, it was just the right pace. There’s an air of mystery that envelops his whole life, and while it does take a little while before we get to the heart of it (this isn’t a instant-adventure kind of book), it is absolutely worth the trip.
I did enjoyed this book a little less than The Thirteenth Tale though, and I think there were two reasons for this. First, I found there was a lot of details about his work, which didn’t bring anything to the story or the feel of it. While I admire the research the author must have put into it, it was at times a little too technical, almost jarringly so compared to her beautiful writing.
I also found it difficult to relate to William or any of the characters. There was a constant distance between me and them I felt, a distance the narration didn’t manage to diminish. So while I was absolutely in love with the gothic atmosphere and the writing, I was a little disappointed I didn’t feel strong love or hate or anything passionate for the characters.
All in all though, I really liked this one. Diane Setterfield has been part of my two participations to the R.I.P. challenge, and I’m a little sad there isn’t more from her waiting for me. Even with its little flaws, this book has some gorgeous qualities, and I’ll be happy to recommend it to readers looking for a dark, enigmatic tale.
The setting was rich and the atmosphere really gripping. From the start, I was pulled into William’s life and I love how we followed him from childhood to his career to his own adult life. As readers, we got to witness most of William’s important life events, and even though it was quick, it was just the right pace. There’s an air of mystery that envelops his whole life, and while it does take a little while before we get to the heart of it (this isn’t a instant-adventure kind of book), it is absolutely worth the trip.
I did enjoyed this book a little less than The Thirteenth Tale though, and I think there were two reasons for this. First, I found there was a lot of details about his work, which didn’t bring anything to the story or the feel of it. While I admire the research the author must have put into it, it was at times a little too technical, almost jarringly so compared to her beautiful writing.
I also found it difficult to relate to William or any of the characters. There was a constant distance between me and them I felt, a distance the narration didn’t manage to diminish. So while I was absolutely in love with the gothic atmosphere and the writing, I was a little disappointed I didn’t feel strong love or hate or anything passionate for the characters.
All in all though, I really liked this one. Diane Setterfield has been part of my two participations to the R.I.P. challenge, and I’m a little sad there isn’t more from her waiting for me. Even with its little flaws, this book has some gorgeous qualities, and I’ll be happy to recommend it to readers looking for a dark, enigmatic tale.
What. The. Hell? Seriously, I can't believe I stuck this whole book out. What a waste. The whole story was pointless.
Such a shame - I loved The Thirteenth Tale.
Such a shame - I loved The Thirteenth Tale.
Several years ago this book got a huge marketing push. It was everywhere. It was especially all over Goodreads, where you could click a page that didn't have a big picture of the cover and a lot of gushing blurbery. I assume the massive marketing presence and the vague notion and/or threat of it being sort of a spooky read is why I added it to my endless list.
It's not spooky. It's not even much of a story. It's some love letters to rooks, which are fancy mystical European crows. It's about Bellman who is just going gangbusters at a textile mill. Then everyone he loves dies and he doesn't like the mill anymore. So he goes to London to commodify mourning. He's great at that. Then he dies.
There are other characters and they do other stuff. They have tiny stories that Bellman notices. And that's all. Meh.
It's not spooky. It's not even much of a story. It's some love letters to rooks, which are fancy mystical European crows. It's about Bellman who is just going gangbusters at a textile mill. Then everyone he loves dies and he doesn't like the mill anymore. So he goes to London to commodify mourning. He's great at that. Then he dies.
There are other characters and they do other stuff. They have tiny stories that Bellman notices. And that's all. Meh.
A haunting tale of grief.
Having read [b:The Thirteenth Tale|40440|The Thirteenth Tale|Diane Setterfield|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1346267826l/40440._SX50_.jpg|849453] I assumed another book by the same author would be a safe bet. The verdict? Yes, a special read but with a very different vibe to The Thirteenth Tale and it won't be for everyone.
I won't reveal the story for fear of spoilers, but it's important to read right to the end to understand what the book is about. The final chapter made all the pieces drop into place (perhaps I'm slow on the uptake) so you have to be patient. That said, the writing is just beautiful and I loved William Bellman's story. The character's growth and then decline into self-destruction was both uplifting, distressing, and believable in equal measure.
This is a book about grief and the price of denying your feelings. That doesn't mean it's a depressing read, because grief is a character in the story, and the plot is about William Bellman's reaction to this character (the mysterious Mr Black.)
Bellman and Black may not be for everyone, but I found it a haunting story (forgive the pun) and can't stop thinking about it. I will definitely re-read at some point, to absorb the nuances I missed the first time around.
This was hovering around a 4 star, right up until the final chapters, but as everything fell into place I better appreciated the genius of the author, and its now a solid 5 stars from me.
Beautiful, just beautiful, and poignant.
Having read [b:The Thirteenth Tale|40440|The Thirteenth Tale|Diane Setterfield|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1346267826l/40440._SX50_.jpg|849453] I assumed another book by the same author would be a safe bet. The verdict? Yes, a special read but with a very different vibe to The Thirteenth Tale and it won't be for everyone.
I won't reveal the story for fear of spoilers, but it's important to read right to the end to understand what the book is about. The final chapter made all the pieces drop into place (perhaps I'm slow on the uptake) so you have to be patient. That said, the writing is just beautiful and I loved William Bellman's story. The character's growth and then decline into self-destruction was both uplifting, distressing, and believable in equal measure.
This is a book about grief and the price of denying your feelings. That doesn't mean it's a depressing read, because grief is a character in the story, and the plot is about William Bellman's reaction to this character (the mysterious Mr Black.)
Bellman and Black may not be for everyone, but I found it a haunting story (forgive the pun) and can't stop thinking about it. I will definitely re-read at some point, to absorb the nuances I missed the first time around.
This was hovering around a 4 star, right up until the final chapters, but as everything fell into place I better appreciated the genius of the author, and its now a solid 5 stars from me.
Beautiful, just beautiful, and poignant.
Really interesting story that makes you think more than you would usually do
“These are shapes, Dora thinks, that she has seen before, a million years ago, in another world. They are incomprehensible, but she has known them in the past, and the day will come when she will know them again. For today she watches, holding her breath. She forgets the others, forgets herself, forgets everything but the bliss of the shapes that paint themselves on her soul as they paint themselves on the sky.”
This book truly did feel like a living thing.
This book truly did feel like a living thing.