freesien's review against another edition
4.0
What a beautifully written debut novel! So vivid and full of wonderful prose. Don't be fooled by that bright cover, though, this book is pretty dark.
The Enchanted is set in an old maximum security prison, our narrator is a nameless prisoner. We also follow the story of "the lady", "the priest" and "the warden" and learn about the fellow prisoner York through our nameless protagonist.
Our main character does not speak but is an avid reader, escaping into the world of books. Not only do we learn more of him but also about York whose case has been assigned to the death penalty investigator "the lady". She is researching York's past and trying to save him from death.
The atmosphere is pretty bleak throughout the novel but there are moments so beautiful which brighten up the book a little bit.
I also must admit that I didn't see that ending coming, I was really suprised.
This is a very haunting story but in a good way.
The Enchanted is set in an old maximum security prison, our narrator is a nameless prisoner. We also follow the story of "the lady", "the priest" and "the warden" and learn about the fellow prisoner York through our nameless protagonist.
Our main character does not speak but is an avid reader, escaping into the world of books. Not only do we learn more of him but also about York whose case has been assigned to the death penalty investigator "the lady". She is researching York's past and trying to save him from death.
The atmosphere is pretty bleak throughout the novel but there are moments so beautiful which brighten up the book a little bit.
I also must admit that I didn't see that ending coming, I was really suprised.
This is a very haunting story but in a good way.
waxingquixotic's review
5.0
This book was a perfect mix of everything I love.
First, I love prison. Wait, let me start over...
First, I love stories about institutions like this. Two of my favorite movies are "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The Shawshank Redemption". I also toured Alcatraz while in San Francisco last year. I'm not really sure what that says about me, but there is probably some deeper psychological meaning in there somewhere. Anyway, I love these types of stories. This felt so real, and I loved how it bounced around between different stories to focus on various characters.
Second, I love fantasy books so it was really cool to see some fantasy elements mixed into the story. All of the mystical stuff the narrator described added a unique layer to the story. It's all about death row and the toll it takes on the inmates and staff, but there were times when it felt like Harry Potter when golden horses or small men with hammers came onto the scene.
And, finally, this story was the perfect length. It's just over 200 pages, and it never wastes time. Every sentence was important. There weren't pages of character development or paragraph after paragraph about the setting of each scene. It felt like [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294702760s/38447.jpg|1119185] or [b:Bird Box|18498558|Bird Box|Josh Malerman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383949470s/18498558.jpg|26186624] since it had that minimal, bleak tone throughout the story.
And, finally (for real this time), I loved the ending. I haven't been able to say that recently so it feels good to finally be able to enjoy how a book wrapped up. Parts of the ending felt like Paul Thomas Anderson co-wrote the book, and I'm honestly not completely sure I "get" everything I should have from the ending, but I loved it.
I'm often like a cranky old man and find everything that's wrong with a book so I can complain about it in my review. This time I don't have anything to complain about. This book is awesome.
It's awesome.
First, I love prison. Wait, let me start over...
First, I love stories about institutions like this. Two of my favorite movies are "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The Shawshank Redemption". I also toured Alcatraz while in San Francisco last year. I'm not really sure what that says about me, but there is probably some deeper psychological meaning in there somewhere. Anyway, I love these types of stories. This felt so real, and I loved how it bounced around between different stories to focus on various characters.
Second, I love fantasy books so it was really cool to see some fantasy elements mixed into the story. All of the mystical stuff the narrator described added a unique layer to the story. It's all about death row and the toll it takes on the inmates and staff, but there were times when it felt like Harry Potter when golden horses or small men with hammers came onto the scene.
And, finally, this story was the perfect length. It's just over 200 pages, and it never wastes time. Every sentence was important. There weren't pages of character development or paragraph after paragraph about the setting of each scene. It felt like [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294702760s/38447.jpg|1119185] or [b:Bird Box|18498558|Bird Box|Josh Malerman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383949470s/18498558.jpg|26186624] since it had that minimal, bleak tone throughout the story.
And, finally (for real this time), I loved the ending. I haven't been able to say that recently so it feels good to finally be able to enjoy how a book wrapped up. Parts of the ending felt like Paul Thomas Anderson co-wrote the book, and I'm honestly not completely sure I "get" everything I should have from the ending, but I loved it.
I'm often like a cranky old man and find everything that's wrong with a book so I can complain about it in my review. This time I don't have anything to complain about. This book is awesome.
It's awesome.
nessa_griffinxx's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
smileysam's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
mliztucker's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this book was very interesting and well-written, with incredibly difficult content. Hence only 3 stars for me. Not because it wasn't very well-done, but because coming out of it I can't say "I really liked it." It was a hard thing for me to read. Definitely trigger warnings for sexual abuse within. But an important thing to read in thinking about incarcerated populations in our country.
patricia63's review
5.0
This book was hauntingly beautiful. It was as if reading poetry. The words and passion in describing the story did not allow me to stop reading. The writer’s way of telling the story of inmates on death row was like nothing I had ever read, yet the story was tragic. One of my all time favorites.
bvkutosan's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
claire_melanie's review
5.0
This is an incredible book - a lyrical, deeply affecting, poetic, tragic and enchanting story written about death row inmates and set in the violent, dehumanising, corrupt and dysfunctional prison system. So beautiful, sad and thought provoking.
tuli_kukka's review
5.0
Amazingly beautiful language and deep meanings! This is not just a book, but so much more.
kecb12's review against another edition
5.0
What a gorgeous book about a gut-wrenching topic. I was surprised over and over by how this book humanized a group of people who are so often seen as animals: death row inmates and prison inmates. Denfield's use of names (or lack of names), her description of the history behind certain inmates, and the interaction between the Lady, the Priest, and these men created a whole world within the prison. Even more than that, she was able to use the Lady and Priest's story to show the prisons that everyone creates within their own lives and based on their own histories. I loved this book---deeply. I can't wait to read it again.