A review by amber_hastings
Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Exquisite in all arenas: plot, subplots, characters, scene-setting, prose. Unlike most of Kate Atkinson's novels I didn't have a moment of gasping when all the storylines drew together — in fact some of the conclusions seemed inevitable or easy to guess at, but this didn't make them any less exciting. I do wish it hadn't ended quite so quickly, although the lengthy show curtain does suit the book. Perhaps it was the pain of parting ways with characters we've spent so much time with!
I think Atkinson is a marvellous writer and this novel is one of her best. I was both rushing through it to find out more and trying to hold myself back at the same time. I wish I could read it again afresh.