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3.13 AVERAGE
3.13 AVERAGE
Look, this book is beautifully written, mysterious, historically interesting, bittersweet, and evocative. The style reminds me of [b:The Pillars of the Earth|5043|The Pillars of the Earth (The Pillars of the Earth, #1)|Ken Follett|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388193707s/5043.jpg|3359698], but thankfully not so painfully long. The problem for me was
I read one hundred pages enthralled and wondering when it was going to get spooky, seventy pages worried that the story was going to suck, and then made myself finish hoping it would redeem itself. Alas. Language and stylistically lovely.
Spoiler
it turned out to be about a Victorian funerary mall. A mall.I read one hundred pages enthralled and wondering when it was going to get spooky, seventy pages worried that the story was going to suck, and then made myself finish hoping it would redeem itself. Alas. Language and stylistically lovely.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ahhhhhhhhhhh man. I liked it, or rather parts of it, but it wasn't a ghost story and didn't really deliver on a satisfying story. The author is great on descriptions and I lovvvved Thirteenth Tale, but this one didn't really hold up as well.
Pomysł fajny, ale mam wrażenie, że nie do końca wykorzystali i chwilami słabo rozwinięty. Kurczę na pierwszej części bawiłam się świetnie, ale niestety druga była nudnawa i właściwie mocno przewidywalna. Raczej takie 2,75⭐️
It's hard to rate this novel without comparing it to The Thirteenth Tale. The book was extremely readable, and there is still something somewhat magical in the way that Setterfield writes, but the story as a whole was not nearly as mysterious or compelling as her previous novel. I actually liked the portion of the novel that occurred prior to the forming of Bellman & Black (the first 125 pages or so) more than after the two entered into partnership. After this point any momentum the novel had somewhat disappeared in my opinion, maybe it was just due to the fact that the writing of Bellman's in and outs at the mill felt so much more active and pleasurable than his activities creating Bellman & Black
Hmmmm... There were parts of this book that I loved. Setterfield gives beautiful, lush descriptions with great care in providing period details. I also enjoyed the weaving of rooks and their behavior into the story. But overall I was a bit disappointed. I expected something more (especially after Setterfield's great success with "The Thirteenth Tale").
UGH. I so wanted to like this book but I HATED it. So many questions left unanswered. So many open leads and misdirection. It could have benefited from another hundred pages.
This was not the best story I've read, but it was such beautiful writing. I loved Setterfield's book The Thirteenth Tale on so many levels. This has the same beautiful writing and Wuthering Heights feel to it but a story line that isn't as grabbing. It's a novel about getting caught up in life and realizing your regrets far too late, as Bellman becomes obsessed with his losses and doesn't see what he still has left to live for.
I enjoyed the historical Victorian details concerning mourning, as well as the Gothic theme.
In some ways I feel like I'm being too kind to this book because I see the flaws others see in it. It's very slow paced. A lot of the story is hidden in metaphor and a little bogged down by minutia, especially in part one. (Although, in retrospect, the excessive detail fits with Bellman's obsessive-compulsive nature.)
I stuck with the book because I love Setterfield's writing style, but I didn't feel like I really liked the story until part two. That's where I feel the story takes its turn into a subtle, creepy tone that builds for the rest of the novel. Bellman's character also becomes much more compelling to me at this point.
To anyone thinking about reading this book, I would suggest reading The Thirteenth Tale if you haven't already. And if you're going to read Bellman & Black, don't go in expecting a ghost story, even though that's what the cover says. The argument can be made that it is one, but you'll be disappointed if you're expecting a traditional ghost story. This book is not for everyone, but if you want something that'll make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck (and don't mind that the first half is a bit slow), this is worth a read.
I stuck with the book because I love Setterfield's writing style, but I didn't feel like I really liked the story until part two. That's where I feel the story takes its turn into a subtle, creepy tone that builds for the rest of the novel. Bellman's character also becomes much more compelling to me at this point.
To anyone thinking about reading this book, I would suggest reading The Thirteenth Tale if you haven't already. And if you're going to read Bellman & Black, don't go in expecting a ghost story, even though that's what the cover says. The argument can be made that it is one, but you'll be disappointed if you're expecting a traditional ghost story. This book is not for everyone, but if you want something that'll make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck (and don't mind that the first half is a bit slow), this is worth a read.