A review by lamergirl
Sour Cherry by Natalia Theodoridou

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I might have enjoyed this more if I knew more of the details of the Bluebeard myth, as this is a retelling, and so some of the recurring images could've meant more to me. As a retelling, it's good, though half way through I did find myself thinking I would've enjoyed it more as a straight modernization, as opposed to keeping the fairytale setting. Theodoridou uses the myth of Bluebeard to talk about domestic abuse and the ability of rich men to bury the skeletons in their closets, and that is a nice  approach, but I think it would've been more interesting, more powerful, and a stronger book if it was 20% more "real life." We already have fairytale depictions of Bluebeard...the hints of modernity in this book were the most fascinating parts. 

As it stands, this book is both too long while also not giving us enough (I think because the bulk of this story is front loaded on "Bluebeard's" childhood & relationship with Agnes, despite that not much was truly gleamed from it). The best part of this book is undeniably the Tristan chapter, which the author seems to realize as well, since it is 50 pages long and acts as its own self-contained short-story.