johanna999999's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? N/A
2.5
renaeann's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
mrslennyren's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book and I know I loved it because I read it in three days and thought about it when I wasn't reading it. That's the sign of a good book to me. I felt sympathy for the main character and curious about what exactly had happened to the daughter. The end had me re-read it twice. Thought it was great!
bookowl's review against another edition
2.0
I have to agree with another reviewer. The protagonist spends so much time telling us how she's managing her life and is on top of things and then OOPS, realizes maybe she doesn't. She loves her family and is so connected to them, but somehow doesn't realize that her daughter is pregnant, her one son is gay and her other son is on drugs and her husband is having an affair. I get that it's supposed to be about how you can not know the people you think you're closest with, but it seems like every possible cliche was piled on.
The ending made no sense whatsoever. Oh, I found my child and grandchild who I thought were dead! Well, I guess I'll just let them ride off into the sunset. Bye!
The ending made no sense whatsoever. Oh, I found my child and grandchild who I thought were dead! Well, I guess I'll just let them ride off into the sunset. Bye!
monchandtherats's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shrenik_g's review against another edition
slow-paced
0.5
Slow, boring, pathetic & uneventful ending. Instead of reading this book, read the reviews and call it a day
eserafina42's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. I don't feel that I need to like all the characters in a book, even the main one, but I didn't find the characters in this one to be either sympathetic or well developed. Also, I have to confess to some probable bias due to extreme annoyance at the self-indulgence of the upper-middle-class people who seem to populate most of this type of books. Admittedly, I have no idea what it's like to lose a child, but I would imagine that most average people have to go back to work and get on with their lives, at least to some extent, and don't have the luxury of leaving their jobs and spending over a year wallowing in grief and guilt.
oh_forbookssake's review against another edition
4.0
I read 2/3 of this book before realising I’d already read it! I wouldn’t blame the book for that, more my memory and the fact I read books very quickly I don’t always absorb everything. Anyway I found myself having to read til the end to find out how the story got there.
I enjoyed this book, it’s a different take on a missing child story, the ending in particular. Definitely worth a read.
I enjoyed this book, it’s a different take on a missing child story, the ending in particular. Definitely worth a read.
zoesbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
http://z0ereads.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/daughter-jane-shemilt.html
noveldeelights's review against another edition
3.5* --> 4*
Beth and Albie seemingly have the perfect marriage. But Beth has quite a few skeletons in her closet, amongst them a long-running affair with Albie’s boss, Ted, which has affected her future. Albie is blinded by ambition and his admiration for Ted but when Ted’s generosity seems to crumble, Beth sees this as the perfect opportunity to satisfy her husband’s ambitions and have her revenge on Ted in one fell swoop.
How Far We Fall is very different from the psychological thrillers I’m used to and I must admit it took me quite a while to get into it. Not only are the characters incredibly unlikeable, the pace is also rather slow. Particularly in the first part of the story, which lays the foundation of how these three complex characters are connected and turns this story into the most fascinating character study.
There is a constant claustrophobic and almost threatening vibe, especially in the dramatic setting of the Jura where parts of the story are played out. Jane Shemilt takes full advantage of her medical background as a GP and of her husband’s, who’s a neurosurgeon. These were parts I read through my fingers because while I can apparently read about the most gruesome of murders, actual surgery descriptions make my stomach go all funny.
This is a story about ambition, jealousy, betrayal and revenge with an intricately and thought-provoking character-driven plot. It’s intriguing, incredibly dark and chilling. Not one to race through but one that requires a bit of concentration and I’m glad I stuck with it because despite the slow pace, it was well worth it in the end.
Beth and Albie seemingly have the perfect marriage. But Beth has quite a few skeletons in her closet, amongst them a long-running affair with Albie’s boss, Ted, which has affected her future. Albie is blinded by ambition and his admiration for Ted but when Ted’s generosity seems to crumble, Beth sees this as the perfect opportunity to satisfy her husband’s ambitions and have her revenge on Ted in one fell swoop.
How Far We Fall is very different from the psychological thrillers I’m used to and I must admit it took me quite a while to get into it. Not only are the characters incredibly unlikeable, the pace is also rather slow. Particularly in the first part of the story, which lays the foundation of how these three complex characters are connected and turns this story into the most fascinating character study.
There is a constant claustrophobic and almost threatening vibe, especially in the dramatic setting of the Jura where parts of the story are played out. Jane Shemilt takes full advantage of her medical background as a GP and of her husband’s, who’s a neurosurgeon. These were parts I read through my fingers because while I can apparently read about the most gruesome of murders, actual surgery descriptions make my stomach go all funny.
This is a story about ambition, jealousy, betrayal and revenge with an intricately and thought-provoking character-driven plot. It’s intriguing, incredibly dark and chilling. Not one to race through but one that requires a bit of concentration and I’m glad I stuck with it because despite the slow pace, it was well worth it in the end.