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3.13 AVERAGE
3.13 AVERAGE
Did I enjoy it? Meh. I didn't not enjoy it. This was a very middle of the road book for me. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't come away from it feeling like it made a lasting impact and that I loved it. I did enjoy the audiobook narrator (Jack Davenport) quite a bit.
Would I read it again? Probably not.
Who would I recommend it to? If you're a fan of Victorian England and the mourning culture of the time period you might find it interesting. It's billed as a ghost story, but it's not really one.
Any other thoughts? I wish that the story would have focused more on Dora at some points, especially towards the end. I was pretty bored with Will Blackman's predictable storyline, but I was intrigued by his daughter. If there had been more written about her I probably wouldn't think that though, so it was probably for the best. I also had trouble keeping the timeline straight in my head, maybe it was because I was listening to it as an audiobook rather than reading a physical copy? But I feel like the timeline would all of a sudden jump ahead 10 years with no indication that it was going to, and then the time jump would be mentioned in passing and I was left being like, "oh, ok then I guess Will is in his 40s now?" I also like the little bits about the Rooks scattered between each section. I learned a lot about them, which was interesting!
Would I read it again? Probably not.
Who would I recommend it to? If you're a fan of Victorian England and the mourning culture of the time period you might find it interesting. It's billed as a ghost story, but it's not really one.
Any other thoughts? I wish that the story would have focused more on Dora at some points, especially towards the end. I was pretty bored with Will Blackman's predictable storyline, but I was intrigued by his daughter. If there had been more written about her I probably wouldn't think that though, so it was probably for the best. I also had trouble keeping the timeline straight in my head, maybe it was because I was listening to it as an audiobook rather than reading a physical copy? But I feel like the timeline would all of a sudden jump ahead 10 years with no indication that it was going to, and then the time jump would be mentioned in passing and I was left being like, "oh, ok then I guess Will is in his 40s now?" I also like the little bits about the Rooks scattered between each section. I learned a lot about them, which was interesting!
What a disappointment. Pretty much wanted to drop it immediately but stuck it out because the 13th tale was so good.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Boring. I loved on reviewers write-up. A bunch of people die, and then you learn about textile and manufacturing. I loved the 13th tale so this was a major disappointment. It is like the author herself got bored writing it. Diappointing. Gave up at page 180.
After reading The Thirteenth Tale, I was rabid for another book by Diane Setterfield. She took her sweet time crafting this one, so I figured it would be incredible and unputdownable and I was so excited.
I was so disappointed.
Don't get me wrong. I couldn't put the book down while I was reading it. Setterfield still writes beautifully and I love her prosetry. But the story behind this book bothered me. When I finished the book, I thought "well... what was the point of that?"
It was a creepy (good) read for October, but it was nowhere near the level of awesomeness that I found from The Thirteenth Tale. And that is a bummer.
I was so disappointed.
Don't get me wrong. I couldn't put the book down while I was reading it. Setterfield still writes beautifully and I love her prosetry. But the story behind this book bothered me. When I finished the book, I thought "well... what was the point of that?"
It was a creepy (good) read for October, but it was nowhere near the level of awesomeness that I found from The Thirteenth Tale. And that is a bummer.
I have two stars because the writer writes beautifully.
However I cannot recommend this book as it is boring.
It’s full of exposition which is boring, and characters who all blend into each other which is very boring.
Nothing happens, this is boring.
Every scene is dragged out and goes on and on with repetition which is incredibly boring.
I was so bored I leapt to the middle, then end to see if it got any better.
Nope, still boring.
I did not finish but am pretty upset at this inane and dull offering from setterfield.
Oh and did I mention it was boring ?
However I cannot recommend this book as it is boring.
It’s full of exposition which is boring, and characters who all blend into each other which is very boring.
Nothing happens, this is boring.
Every scene is dragged out and goes on and on with repetition which is incredibly boring.
I was so bored I leapt to the middle, then end to see if it got any better.
Nope, still boring.
I did not finish but am pretty upset at this inane and dull offering from setterfield.
Oh and did I mention it was boring ?
dnf at 40%
i don’t have time right now to read books that feel like they’re going nowhere. i’ll pick it up again at some other time, maybe. i loved the thirteenth tale but this one feels like it’s already over? so weird.
i don’t have time right now to read books that feel like they’re going nowhere. i’ll pick it up again at some other time, maybe. i loved the thirteenth tale but this one feels like it’s already over? so weird.
What a waste of time!!!
After reading other reviews, I have to say that I enjoyed the first part of the book when William was running the mill. I liked him, his energy, his cleverness, etc. and I did find kind of interesting the mill explanation. However, after the "plot twist" (if it can be called that), William stopped being William and started being Bellman. And yeah, I get what the author wanted to explain but I just couldn't care because Bellman was highly annoying and empty and I just wanted him to die already 100 pages before the end.
Very boring, nothing really happens, the deal with Black is not even well put in there, and the rooks are even more annoying than Bellman.
Don't lose your time, don't read this book.
After reading other reviews, I have to say that I enjoyed the first part of the book when William was running the mill. I liked him, his energy, his cleverness, etc. and I did find kind of interesting the mill explanation. However, after the "plot twist" (if it can be called that), William stopped being William and started being Bellman. And yeah, I get what the author wanted to explain but I just couldn't care because Bellman was highly annoying and empty and I just wanted him to die already 100 pages before the end.
Very boring, nothing really happens, the deal with Black is not even well put in there, and the rooks are even more annoying than Bellman.
Don't lose your time, don't read this book.
The reviews are rather negative and I thought I would make my own mind up.
I'm glad I did because I really liked this.
Lots of people stopped reading halfway through and wondered where the more ghostly parts were...
One thing is certain, this is a story and not a novel. There is no hugely detailed characterisation or set up. It is a tale.
Lovely friendly feel to it and just the right air of mystery. I read the whole thing imagining it with dodgy background music in black and white.
A good read.
I'm glad I did because I really liked this.
Lots of people stopped reading halfway through and wondered where the more ghostly parts were...
One thing is certain, this is a story and not a novel. There is no hugely detailed characterisation or set up. It is a tale.
Lovely friendly feel to it and just the right air of mystery. I read the whole thing imagining it with dodgy background music in black and white.
A good read.
Had to put it down for a few days and never felt compelled to pick it back up. On the Abandoned shelf it goes!