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scrabb1e 's review for:
The Daughter of Time
by Josephine Tey
challenging
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
1. Themes or Characters that Resonated:
No particular characters stood out—the contemporary ones were fairly shallow, serving mainly as a vehicle for the mystery and historical argument. The book's central theme of re-examining accepted history and questioning “truths” handed down through time did resonate, especially through the metaphor of detective work.
2. Emotions, Thoughts, or Memories:
Frustration was a major emotion, especially early on. The dense web of unfamiliar names and titles made it hard to keep track of who was important until much later in the story. It also sparked some curiosity about the history of the English monarchy, particularly around Richard III, even though that curiosity isn’t strong enough to pursue in book-length detail.
3. Opinion about the Author or Writing Style:
The book was clever in its structure, but might have benefited from being longer. The historical mystery would have had more impact if the drama was fleshed out more fully. A first-person narrative from a historical figure’s point of view might have made the story more emotionally engaging—but would’ve come at the cost of the book’s core idea: challenging received history. It’s a trade-off. As it is, Tey’s writing served its purpose, but didn’t particularly impress on a prose level.
5. Lasting Impact:
The main impact of the book was giving me a better sense of a historical episode I previously knew nothing about. Even if I’m not ready to take its claims at face value, I now have a basic awareness of the Richard III controversy. This might lead me to read short articles or watch summaries to better understand the real debate. It’s also the book that most reminded me of I, Claudius, though I, Claudius was more enjoyable overall due to stronger characterization and clarity.
My ratings-
Writing Style: 85
Relatability: 80
Originality: 85
Personal impact: 80
Plot: 80
No particular characters stood out—the contemporary ones were fairly shallow, serving mainly as a vehicle for the mystery and historical argument. The book's central theme of re-examining accepted history and questioning “truths” handed down through time did resonate, especially through the metaphor of detective work.
2. Emotions, Thoughts, or Memories:
Frustration was a major emotion, especially early on. The dense web of unfamiliar names and titles made it hard to keep track of who was important until much later in the story. It also sparked some curiosity about the history of the English monarchy, particularly around Richard III, even though that curiosity isn’t strong enough to pursue in book-length detail.
3. Opinion about the Author or Writing Style:
The book was clever in its structure, but might have benefited from being longer. The historical mystery would have had more impact if the drama was fleshed out more fully. A first-person narrative from a historical figure’s point of view might have made the story more emotionally engaging—but would’ve come at the cost of the book’s core idea: challenging received history. It’s a trade-off. As it is, Tey’s writing served its purpose, but didn’t particularly impress on a prose level.
5. Lasting Impact:
The main impact of the book was giving me a better sense of a historical episode I previously knew nothing about. Even if I’m not ready to take its claims at face value, I now have a basic awareness of the Richard III controversy. This might lead me to read short articles or watch summaries to better understand the real debate. It’s also the book that most reminded me of I, Claudius, though I, Claudius was more enjoyable overall due to stronger characterization and clarity.
My ratings-
Writing Style: 85
Relatability: 80
Originality: 85
Personal impact: 80
Plot: 80