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A review by krista225
The Pleasures of Men by Kate Williams
3.0
This is definitely not a keeper, at least not for me. While I found many aspects of the story interesting, I did not enjoy the writing style enough to consider a future re-read. That's my measurement of keeper or not-a-keeper: can I imagine myself rereading the book? If the answer is no, the book gets moved along to a new home. So this one will be moving along to a friend of mine that expressed interest.
Catherine Sorgeiul is an interesting character that serves well in the role of unreliable narrator. Her mental state is questionable throughout the narrative. This is emphasized by the fact that she has come to live with her uncle after being released from a Victorian asylum, a place she had been sent to after the death of her family. Plagued by her own inner demons, Catherine believes she can recognize evil when she comes face to face with it. She is, after all, darkness herself. This belief feeds into her fascination with The Man of Crows, a serial killer stalking poor women in her neighborhood. The story hinges around her fanciful imagination, her suppositions, and her excursions beyond her uncle's home.
It's an interesting premise and I was intrigued. I thought Catherine a fascinating character and rather enjoyed the mystery surrounding the murderer's identity. My rating would be much higher had I found the ending more satisfactory for a stand alone book.
Catherine Sorgeiul is an interesting character that serves well in the role of unreliable narrator. Her mental state is questionable throughout the narrative. This is emphasized by the fact that she has come to live with her uncle after being released from a Victorian asylum, a place she had been sent to after the death of her family. Plagued by her own inner demons, Catherine believes she can recognize evil when she comes face to face with it. She is, after all, darkness herself. This belief feeds into her fascination with The Man of Crows, a serial killer stalking poor women in her neighborhood. The story hinges around her fanciful imagination, her suppositions, and her excursions beyond her uncle's home.
It's an interesting premise and I was intrigued. I thought Catherine a fascinating character and rather enjoyed the mystery surrounding the murderer's identity. My rating would be much higher had I found the ending more satisfactory for a stand alone book.