lemon_'s review against another edition
3.0
I've always been fascinated by Madame Tussaud, so this novelization was a welcome read. It's such a unique time period and topic that you'd be hard pressed to find something similar. It can read as very poetic and flowy, so if you don't have patience for that sort of writing, you may struggle to get through this book. But I really enjoyed it.
aliceq's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I loved this book. Macabre in places but well-handled. Got really invested in Marie and her story which was fascinating. The supporting characters were colourfully drawn and added hugely to the story. Ended up researching the historical setting.
Would love to know what happened next!
Would love to know what happened next!
hannchilada's review against another edition
4.0
The best part about Little was by far the immersive tone. Marie felt so real to me. And she was a very Jane Eyre heroine, stoic and prim and all around different. At the same time, she had that refreshing twentieth century open mind and sass. The combination is utterly unique and yet it never leaves the French Revolution.
The other characters, for some reason, feel less important. "Little" Marie loomed larger than life, that much is certain. But there was aching humanity, even in the villains, from the widow to the princess. All of the main characters also have their own flaws, and I love them for it.
I think the plot of the book matches Marie's tone, dancing between macabre and intricate, almost obsessive fascination. Consequently, the plot and tone combine to great effect. I noted at one point, this is getting painful to read. But at that exact point, Carey introduced a light into the story. I think he has a great awareness of the reader and finds a way to pull at the heartstrings without leaving them sore.
Still, I think the pacing left me uncomfortable too long at certain points in the story, and at other times the details felt too intricate, the detached fascination almost morbid in a way that made me uncomfortable. I think other people might like this detail, but it wasn't for me.
All in all, I love the direction this book is pushing fiction. Both the concept and the heroine are completely out of the box. I'd love to read more from Edward Carey. Rating: 3.5 stars
The other characters, for some reason, feel less important. "Little" Marie loomed larger than life, that much is certain. But there was aching humanity, even in the villains, from the widow to the princess. All of the main characters also have their own flaws, and I love them for it.
I think the plot of the book matches Marie's tone, dancing between macabre and intricate, almost obsessive fascination. Consequently, the plot and tone combine to great effect. I noted at one point, this is getting painful to read. But at that exact point, Carey introduced a light into the story. I think he has a great awareness of the reader and finds a way to pull at the heartstrings without leaving them sore.
Still, I think the pacing left me uncomfortable too long at certain points in the story, and at other times the details felt too intricate, the detached fascination almost morbid in a way that made me uncomfortable. I think other people might like this detail, but it wasn't for me.
All in all, I love the direction this book is pushing fiction. Both the concept and the heroine are completely out of the box. I'd love to read more from Edward Carey. Rating: 3.5 stars
amyfilmer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sunny063's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
degroot_maartje's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
atlantiico's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ronnyg's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
kandicez's review against another edition
4.0
My daughter and I have always been very enamored with Madame Tussauds. We've visited three, the one in Las Vegas many times. I picked this book up because it was available on the "Large Print: shelf at the library and I hadn't read it. I had no idea at the time that it was a loose adaptation of Madame Tussaud's life. Loose being the operative word now that I have finished and looked her up!
I quite enjoyed the story and style. Marie, or Little as she is sometimes called, is a odd. Her life circumstances have made her so and this leant a distinct voice to the story which is told in the first person. In these pages she led quite the existence, sometimes pitiable life. So much happens to her, much of it bad, and the underpinnings to her genius are explained and detailed.
Because she lives much of her early life as an almost slave, she is often asking when she will be paid. That was very sad, and although I realize this is a VERY fictional account, it made me pity her. Yet she perseveres and eventually finds her own way.
The ending felt a bit rushed and incomplete, especially when I looked her up after the last page. So much more happens after she leaves Paris, and yet this was just glanced over. She truly created an empire as her legacy obviously lives on!
I quite enjoyed the story and style. Marie, or Little as she is sometimes called, is a odd. Her life circumstances have made her so and this leant a distinct voice to the story which is told in the first person. In these pages she led quite the existence, sometimes pitiable life. So much happens to her, much of it bad, and the underpinnings to her genius are explained and detailed.
Because she lives much of her early life as an almost slave, she is often asking when she will be paid. That was very sad, and although I realize this is a VERY fictional account, it made me pity her. Yet she perseveres and eventually finds her own way.
The ending felt a bit rushed and incomplete, especially when I looked her up after the last page. So much more happens after she leaves Paris, and yet this was just glanced over. She truly created an empire as her legacy obviously lives on!