You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.14 AVERAGE
3.14 AVERAGE
not in the mood rn
i will finish it someday
i will finish it someday
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked the story a lot, but what I would like to know from the blurb, which is not a spoiler, is that our protagonist is a workaholic and living calculator. It's complicated, I enjoyed the plot, but William's life was so sad for me. The ending didn't sit right with me either, I imagined something completely different, I personally didn't like it.
From the blurb, I thought Black would be more present as a character, but that's okay, I didn't like him that much anyway. At first, I thought I understood his part in the story, but in the end, I became completely confused with his purpose altogether.
This book, in its Greek version, was given to me as a gift for my eighteenth birthday by one of my best friends, but I read it three years and eleven months later.
Since I read this in another language, I can't really comment on the writer's writing style, but if you're Greek, DO NOT TAKE THE GREEK VERSION. Believe me, you'll suffer. The translation is word to word, not making sense most of the time, but if you read a few pages in a row you get used to it and learn to ignore the bad work of the translation.
From the blurb, I thought Black would be more present as a character, but that's okay, I didn't like him that much anyway. At first, I thought I understood his part in the story, but in the end, I became completely confused with his purpose altogether.
This book, in its Greek version, was given to me as a gift for my eighteenth birthday by one of my best friends, but I read it three years and eleven months later.
Since I read this in another language, I can't really comment on the writer's writing style, but if you're Greek, DO NOT TAKE THE GREEK VERSION. Believe me, you'll suffer. The translation is word to word, not making sense most of the time, but if you read a few pages in a row you get used to it and learn to ignore the bad work of the translation.
I first encountered Diane Setterfield with her first book, The Thirteenth Tale. It was amazing and wonderful and I loved it so much that I bought my own copy. The one I read was from my friends at the library. Well, my friends at the library have supplied me with yet another fix from this wonderful writer.
I have read some of the reviews posted online for this book. I suppose all I can say is everyone's taste is different. I can see how many would not find this book to their liking. And there are also those that are upset that it is so different from The Thirteenth Tale. But, I believe the fact of how different it is shows how good of a writer Diane Setterfield is.
The story is beautiful, slow and haunting. Its rather "slow" by today's standard. Far more belonging with the Gothic tales of the Victorian Era. Much more a study of the characters and how a person's interpretation of one incident can relay the chart of their lives.
The story begins with the murder of a rook by a flawless shot of a child. And the rooks haunt the story throughout. The boy grows to manhood and masters all he touches, till one day it all comes crashing back down. And unnamed bargain is made with the man in Black, a bargain that is assumed but never defined. And it is upon this that the new world is built and the web of mystery woven.
Its a fascinating look into the mind of obsession, of human frailty and how foolish we humans often are. I think my favorite line is we are, "an entertainment of humans".
I have read some of the reviews posted online for this book. I suppose all I can say is everyone's taste is different. I can see how many would not find this book to their liking. And there are also those that are upset that it is so different from The Thirteenth Tale. But, I believe the fact of how different it is shows how good of a writer Diane Setterfield is.
The story is beautiful, slow and haunting. Its rather "slow" by today's standard. Far more belonging with the Gothic tales of the Victorian Era. Much more a study of the characters and how a person's interpretation of one incident can relay the chart of their lives.
The story begins with the murder of a rook by a flawless shot of a child. And the rooks haunt the story throughout. The boy grows to manhood and masters all he touches, till one day it all comes crashing back down. And unnamed bargain is made with the man in Black, a bargain that is assumed but never defined. And it is upon this that the new world is built and the web of mystery woven.
Its a fascinating look into the mind of obsession, of human frailty and how foolish we humans often are. I think my favorite line is we are, "an entertainment of humans".
Many sophomore efforts don't do as well as the first book, but not here: Bellman and Black is a great follow-up to The Thirteenth Tale.
As with Robertson Davies' The Fifth Business the book opens with a rock being thrown. In this case, the rock leaves a slingshot, hits (and kills) a rook. The four boys involved, William, Charlie, Fred and Luke, initially plan a funeral but then forget about it... years later, William has taken over the family mill, much to his grandfather's dismay but the family's enrichment. Over the years, the others die, while William seems to go from success to success. At each of the funerals there's a dark, mysterious man and eventually he and William meet. The result of that meeting is Bellman & Black, a funeral emporium.
At times this reads like a much older novel, with detailed explanations of life at the mill and in the town. At others, the ghost part sneaks through as William feels somehow haunted but isn't sure hy what or who. Interspersed with the narrative is another, odder point-of-view, that of a rook, which only adds to the haunting nature.
I can't wait to see what happens in Setterfeld's third book.
ARC provided by publisher.
As with Robertson Davies' The Fifth Business the book opens with a rock being thrown. In this case, the rock leaves a slingshot, hits (and kills) a rook. The four boys involved, William, Charlie, Fred and Luke, initially plan a funeral but then forget about it... years later, William has taken over the family mill, much to his grandfather's dismay but the family's enrichment. Over the years, the others die, while William seems to go from success to success. At each of the funerals there's a dark, mysterious man and eventually he and William meet. The result of that meeting is Bellman & Black, a funeral emporium.
At times this reads like a much older novel, with detailed explanations of life at the mill and in the town. At others, the ghost part sneaks through as William feels somehow haunted but isn't sure hy what or who. Interspersed with the narrative is another, odder point-of-view, that of a rook, which only adds to the haunting nature.
I can't wait to see what happens in Setterfeld's third book.
ARC provided by publisher.
I have read several books by this author and generally fins them good to read. This one is a perfectly acceptable read. I was interested in the characters and story lineand wanted to see where they would go. I can see the book transformed into a TV series which could perhaps better portray the chillier parts associated with Mr Black and the crows, My main criticisms are that he narrative did not really create the chill factor and the ending was a real let down, it almost felt like the author didn't know how to bring it to an end.
While I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as Setterfield's first, The Thirteenth Tale, I did like it quite a bit. The author writes beautifully. This book is more subtle and atmospheric and less story-driven. The reader has to work a bit harder. That said, if you enjoy a good gothic novel, I'd recommend this one.
I'm going to let this one sink in a bit more before trying to write an actual review, but my initial reaction is disappointment.
ARC provided by publisher through Edelweiss.
I was skeptical of reading something that hints of a ghost story, but was drawn into this book and accomplished little else until I finished it.
William Bellman is a character who is so blessed with good fortune until his relationship with Black slowly pulls him away from all happiness. And who is Black? Ghost, Guilt, Death, Obsession? I am not sure I ever figured that out.
Great historical fiction with just enough sinister undertones to make this story unique. You will never look at crow the same again.
I was skeptical of reading something that hints of a ghost story, but was drawn into this book and accomplished little else until I finished it.
William Bellman is a character who is so blessed with good fortune until his relationship with Black slowly pulls him away from all happiness. And who is Black? Ghost, Guilt, Death, Obsession? I am not sure I ever figured that out.
Great historical fiction with just enough sinister undertones to make this story unique. You will never look at crow the same again.
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes