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kats05's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this book because of the promise it held as soon as I looked at it:
* set in Scotland
* glowing praise in foreword by my beloved Maggie O' Farrell
* gothic tale
* dysfunctional family story
* starts with a murder
and yet.... this book didn't capture me, I didn't care for the storyline, nor any of the characters, and six months on, I don't remember all that much about it except that I likes the style of writing but not the gloomy, depressing atmosphere. Perhaps some dark humour (of which there was some, but not enough) could have lifted this up in my estimation. Even though there is a murder in a moody setting, it isn't a thriller or murder mystery - even the "who's dunnit" reveal is a bit depressing.
* set in Scotland
* glowing praise in foreword by my beloved Maggie O' Farrell
* gothic tale
* dysfunctional family story
* starts with a murder
and yet.... this book didn't capture me, I didn't care for the storyline, nor any of the characters, and six months on, I don't remember all that much about it except that I likes the style of writing but not the gloomy, depressing atmosphere. Perhaps some dark humour (of which there was some, but not enough) could have lifted this up in my estimation. Even though there is a murder in a moody setting, it isn't a thriller or murder mystery - even the "who's dunnit" reveal is a bit depressing.
jamogo's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t believe I only discovered this gem recently. What an incredible writer, and a truly compelling story.
emilycheno's review against another edition
4.0
Dry humor with dark undertones. I loved the atmospheric quality of the writing. Janet is a convincing protagonist who is lonely and isolated, but still gets into all the mischievous escapades of childhood. Very entertaining!
erinrouleaux's review against another edition
3.0
The writing was superb. Superb in technicality and feeling and yet because of all the empathy for the main character it drew I just couldn’t bear this book until the last 30 pages or so when finally some relief appears against that brutish, cold, unenlightened world and of course the relief is love from an animal. We don’t deserve these pure beings and this book was a reminder I didn’t need of how awful humans can be. Again though, the writing was incredible or as another reviewer more succinctly says: “brilliantly written, but not for me. Too bleak, and the characters were just AWFUL.”
calstar's review against another edition
4.0
4.5. I loved it. The language was incredible, like nothing I have ever read before. The number of times I had to reach for my phone to look up a word or a product or a pronunciation kept me on my toes throughout the whole read. This is the story of Janet, a girl who we know from the first few pages, won't live past 16 but this is not a book about her death; it's about the achingly simple life of a misfit with a ferocious love of her home but with no connections to the people who populate it. Janet mostly grows up in (I think???) the 1940s, shuttled between a decrepit Scottish castle and a windswept boarding school. She is bookish and very smart but she cannot seem to fit into her family or her school. She is extraordinarily thoughtful and sensitive, often to her detriment. The experiences she describes of trying to do what she thinks is the right thing and being shown, every time, that she made the wrong choice felt painfully relatable to me. This is one of those books that stung me as I felt I was seeing someone else experience the world in much the same way I do. I have a feeling I will go back to this one.
rosinadelaluz's review against another edition
5.0
This was so beautifully written. A Gothic story of the best kind, with the most gorgeous imagery. This is a story about a life, beginning to tragic (and dramatic) end. Loved. Five Stars
cgnorris's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful novel with lovely prose that, frankly, broke my heart. Our heroine is tragically misunderstood, even by the reader, but there’s something about her you root for. At less than 200 pages, this book is well worth your time.
danibabyreads's review against another edition
5.0
The fact that I’d never heard of this book until a random recommendation is such a shame. How is this not taught in schools?! This book is an absolute masterclass in prose and place while also being a love letter to literature and storytelling. For all my dark and moody pals who appreciate beautiful sentences, this one’s for you. Also I felt a real kinship to poor Janet — weird girls who like books and animals more than people unite.
chaifanatic18's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mjarviscross's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the first and last few pages; everything in between was pretty good!