Scan barcode
burntout_bookworm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Kind of disappointed. O'Reilly's writing is gorgeous, however, the plot just didn't seem complete to me. There's just something missing for me.
velveteen_reads's review against another edition
3.0
It definitely felt obvious in places that this was a debut novel. While I loved the idea behind the story, I feel that there were places that could be developed further without making it feel like the author went through and got rid of the contractions for a couple pages. The ending also felt so short, I would have loved to see more!
Good story, but sadly a weak execution.
Good story, but sadly a weak execution.
vanessabrioches's review against another edition
4.0
«Il mio unico desiderio è salvare la tua anima per l’eternità.»
«Non posso aspettare così a lungo. Non intendo rinunciare a tutto per l’amore perfetto nell’aldilà. Sono una donna appassionata e voglio l’amore in questa vita, perfetto o no. E se non l’amore, almeno la vita.»
Questo romanzo mi ha sorpresa in positivo sin dalle prime pagine, tutto mi aspettavo fuorché un romanzo divertente, ironico, ma anche profondo e spirituale. Mary è una donna forte che ne ha passate tante e che ancora non ha finito di lottare per la sua vita, per molti aspetti è una donna con uno spirito che anticipa i tempi: è ironica, sfacciata, stoica e non si lascia (quasi) mai sconfiggere dalle maldicenze; però è anche una donna del XIX secolo, molto superstiziosa e anche un po’ vanitosa. Alla fine, il giudizio degli altri pesa per tutti noi. Eppure, in qualche modo, riesce sempre a fregarsene e fare quello che le passa per la testa. Con l’arrivo del ministro, il suo animo si placa e cerca di dimostrargli quanto sia una donna devota e di fede, ma il suo destino è un mare in burrasca e neanche le preghiere saranno in grado di salvarla. Gideon, invece, è un uomo invasato, che cerca di nascondere dietro una fede ferrea tutti gli errori del suo passato e i demoni che abitano il suo cuore. È un ministro, ma è anche un uomo, capace di peccare.
Se vi piace l'avventura, il mare, gli amori impossibili, gli uomini testardi e i personaggi femminili tosti, ironici, ma anche fragili, vale la pena di dare un'occasione a Relitto. Questo romanzo vi farà ridere, certo, ma soprattutto riflettere sulla natura dell’uomo, sulla superstizione e anche sulla fede. In più, le descrizione marine vi lasceranno senza fiato, così come il finale.
«Non posso aspettare così a lungo. Non intendo rinunciare a tutto per l’amore perfetto nell’aldilà. Sono una donna appassionata e voglio l’amore in questa vita, perfetto o no. E se non l’amore, almeno la vita.»
Questo romanzo mi ha sorpresa in positivo sin dalle prime pagine, tutto mi aspettavo fuorché un romanzo divertente, ironico, ma anche profondo e spirituale. Mary è una donna forte che ne ha passate tante e che ancora non ha finito di lottare per la sua vita, per molti aspetti è una donna con uno spirito che anticipa i tempi: è ironica, sfacciata, stoica e non si lascia (quasi) mai sconfiggere dalle maldicenze; però è anche una donna del XIX secolo, molto superstiziosa e anche un po’ vanitosa. Alla fine, il giudizio degli altri pesa per tutti noi. Eppure, in qualche modo, riesce sempre a fregarsene e fare quello che le passa per la testa. Con l’arrivo del ministro, il suo animo si placa e cerca di dimostrargli quanto sia una donna devota e di fede, ma il suo destino è un mare in burrasca e neanche le preghiere saranno in grado di salvarla. Gideon, invece, è un uomo invasato, che cerca di nascondere dietro una fede ferrea tutti gli errori del suo passato e i demoni che abitano il suo cuore. È un ministro, ma è anche un uomo, capace di peccare.
Se vi piace l'avventura, il mare, gli amori impossibili, gli uomini testardi e i personaggi femminili tosti, ironici, ma anche fragili, vale la pena di dare un'occasione a Relitto. Questo romanzo vi farà ridere, certo, ma soprattutto riflettere sulla natura dell’uomo, sulla superstizione e anche sulla fede. In più, le descrizione marine vi lasceranno senza fiato, così come il finale.
moosmoo's review against another edition
3.0
I was drawn in by the cover and feel of this book however I felt deflated and disappointed after finishing it.
It promised a much more enthralling story than it delivered. The writing is well done and very atmospheric but the storyline and romance really fell short of my expectations.
This could have been a really intriguing story, with wreckers scavenging off victims of shipwrecks but overall it was very dull and left a lot to be desired. 3 stars.
It promised a much more enthralling story than it delivered. The writing is well done and very atmospheric but the storyline and romance really fell short of my expectations.
This could have been a really intriguing story, with wreckers scavenging off victims of shipwrecks but overall it was very dull and left a lot to be desired. 3 stars.
booktwitcher23's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
shellshellyshellshell's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
This is a story about a remote, poverty stricken Cornish community in the 1800s, where superstitions and ghost stories are rife. Every now and then a ship wrecks in the dangerous waters of the cove and at these times the local folk rush out to claim the spoils of cargo, stripping ships to the bare bones and the dead of their possessions and even their clothing. Mary Blight is a spirited young women who raises a few eyebrows with her wild red hair and somewhat wanton ways. One day whilst down on the shore Mary spots a man tied to a barrel, floating out on the water. Without a second thought she rushes out into the swell and rescues the man from drowning. The saved man turns out to be a Minister who takes it upon himself to oversee the building of a chapel for the local people in an attempt to help them find God and do away with their superstitious, pagan beliefs. Even Mary tries to live a more pious life to gain the favour of the Minister, but her past sins threaten to come back and haunt her.
This is a very atmospheric story about a community doing what it has done for generations in order to survive. I found Mary to be a very likeable character, a tart with a heart if you like, despite her sometimes questionable deeds and decisions. The writing is lovely and descriptive, though the religious elements were a bit much for me at times. Generally this is a very engrossing and enjoyable read.
3.5*
This is a story about a remote, poverty stricken Cornish community in the 1800s, where superstitions and ghost stories are rife. Every now and then a ship wrecks in the dangerous waters of the cove and at these times the local folk rush out to claim the spoils of cargo, stripping ships to the bare bones and the dead of their possessions and even their clothing. Mary Blight is a spirited young women who raises a few eyebrows with her wild red hair and somewhat wanton ways. One day whilst down on the shore Mary spots a man tied to a barrel, floating out on the water. Without a second thought she rushes out into the swell and rescues the man from drowning. The saved man turns out to be a Minister who takes it upon himself to oversee the building of a chapel for the local people in an attempt to help them find God and do away with their superstitious, pagan beliefs. Even Mary tries to live a more pious life to gain the favour of the Minister, but her past sins threaten to come back and haunt her.
This is a very atmospheric story about a community doing what it has done for generations in order to survive. I found Mary to be a very likeable character, a tart with a heart if you like, despite her sometimes questionable deeds and decisions. The writing is lovely and descriptive, though the religious elements were a bit much for me at times. Generally this is a very engrossing and enjoyable read.
3.5*
amalia1985's review against another edition
5.0
''Time had stopped and God had turned His back on the world.''
Cornwall, 20 years after the Napoleonic Wars. Life in the isolated village of Porthmorvoren is hard. Living in extreme poverty, battling with the formidable weather conditions and the sea, the villagers have been practicing a macabre hunt, stealing valuables and liquor from the bodies that are washed ashore. Until the limits are crossed and punishment must follow. Amidst the troubling events, a young woman is trying to escape the vile circle, seeking a better life. When she rescues a Methodist minister, everything is turned upside down to unknown results...
This is one of those books you approach with extreme caution. Cornwall, Bodmin, smugglers, Methodist communities...It all sounds too familiar when you have read and loved Jamaica's Inn by Daphne du Maurier. Thankfully, O'Reilly knew that there can be no comparisons and chose a different path for his story. He composes a tale that takes place in a wild and unforgiving land and a community whose inhabitants are cruel and merciless. Drunkards, criminals, violent creatures whose only thought is how to find the necessary pennies to pay for the night's liquor. The women in the village are eager to find a husband at all costs and then they eagerly regret their choice. The elders are willing to point the finger at anyone who will try to deviate from the established hierarchy. God is nowhere to be found. This community is so horrible that even Satan would be wary to do business with them. Mary Blight is the only human being with common sense, intelligence, and ambition, fighting against monsters. But if you let your defenses down, you are bound to pay the price.
''The old ruin was no more than a great, cold tomb, full of the bones of the dead. In daylight's first glimmers, the pews took ghostly form, and a pale shape with outstretched wings dropped out of the black depths of the tower and floated over my head through the nave.''
I loved the way O'Reilly constructed the story of Mary within the fascinating setting of Cornwall. We are introduced to the village ethics and when we are transferred to the towns across the moors we understand that the so-called privileged society doesn't differ one iota from the fishermen and their wives. Mary has to cope with prejudice, preconceived notions of propriety, class and femininity and the secretive nature of a man who uses God as a smokescreen to avoid dealing with his own faults.
''It was only an owl, home from its night haunts. Outside on the moor, the world slowly filled with sound of birdsong, the lowing of cows and the bleating of sheep.''
Cornwall is the proper place for the unfolding of dark tales and this is a dark tale. There are no ghosts but the worst type of darkness that exists in people's hearts. Hypocrisy and jealousy, blaming our own vile mistakes and decisions to God, denying responsibility, envying the ones who are able to make their lives better. All we need to do is to destroy them because we can't follow their example. Mary is a beautiful character, realistic, vivid and feisty without seeming fake. Personally, I fully understood her motives and thoughts and she is the perfect personification of the untamed, rebellious nature of Cornwall.
Full of haunting descriptions and a well-constructed plot, O'Reilly comments on the themes of despair and treachery, earthly love and spiritual adoration, struggle and retribution in a fine and memorable example of Historical Fiction.
''Can't I look at a pretty view and enjoy it without thinking Bible thoughts? You can pick a leaf off any tree and wonder at its colour and shape, at the veins that run through it, so like those on the backs of our hands. The Maker lets the skylark soar and sing her heart out in any way she pleases, so why must we cage our feelings and not let them out. This land lives in me, is in my soul.''
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
Cornwall, 20 years after the Napoleonic Wars. Life in the isolated village of Porthmorvoren is hard. Living in extreme poverty, battling with the formidable weather conditions and the sea, the villagers have been practicing a macabre hunt, stealing valuables and liquor from the bodies that are washed ashore. Until the limits are crossed and punishment must follow. Amidst the troubling events, a young woman is trying to escape the vile circle, seeking a better life. When she rescues a Methodist minister, everything is turned upside down to unknown results...
This is one of those books you approach with extreme caution. Cornwall, Bodmin, smugglers, Methodist communities...It all sounds too familiar when you have read and loved Jamaica's Inn by Daphne du Maurier. Thankfully, O'Reilly knew that there can be no comparisons and chose a different path for his story. He composes a tale that takes place in a wild and unforgiving land and a community whose inhabitants are cruel and merciless. Drunkards, criminals, violent creatures whose only thought is how to find the necessary pennies to pay for the night's liquor. The women in the village are eager to find a husband at all costs and then they eagerly regret their choice. The elders are willing to point the finger at anyone who will try to deviate from the established hierarchy. God is nowhere to be found. This community is so horrible that even Satan would be wary to do business with them. Mary Blight is the only human being with common sense, intelligence, and ambition, fighting against monsters. But if you let your defenses down, you are bound to pay the price.
''The old ruin was no more than a great, cold tomb, full of the bones of the dead. In daylight's first glimmers, the pews took ghostly form, and a pale shape with outstretched wings dropped out of the black depths of the tower and floated over my head through the nave.''
I loved the way O'Reilly constructed the story of Mary within the fascinating setting of Cornwall. We are introduced to the village ethics and when we are transferred to the towns across the moors we understand that the so-called privileged society doesn't differ one iota from the fishermen and their wives. Mary has to cope with prejudice, preconceived notions of propriety, class and femininity and the secretive nature of a man who uses God as a smokescreen to avoid dealing with his own faults.
''It was only an owl, home from its night haunts. Outside on the moor, the world slowly filled with sound of birdsong, the lowing of cows and the bleating of sheep.''
Cornwall is the proper place for the unfolding of dark tales and this is a dark tale. There are no ghosts but the worst type of darkness that exists in people's hearts. Hypocrisy and jealousy, blaming our own vile mistakes and decisions to God, denying responsibility, envying the ones who are able to make their lives better. All we need to do is to destroy them because we can't follow their example. Mary is a beautiful character, realistic, vivid and feisty without seeming fake. Personally, I fully understood her motives and thoughts and she is the perfect personification of the untamed, rebellious nature of Cornwall.
Full of haunting descriptions and a well-constructed plot, O'Reilly comments on the themes of despair and treachery, earthly love and spiritual adoration, struggle and retribution in a fine and memorable example of Historical Fiction.
''Can't I look at a pretty view and enjoy it without thinking Bible thoughts? You can pick a leaf off any tree and wonder at its colour and shape, at the veins that run through it, so like those on the backs of our hands. The Maker lets the skylark soar and sing her heart out in any way she pleases, so why must we cage our feelings and not let them out. This land lives in me, is in my soul.''
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
katie_mizuro's review against another edition
1.0
This book took a brief look at gender roles and was an interesting novel for children, but wasn't for me - I don't think I was the intended audience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual content
deadgoodbookreviews's review against another edition
3.0
Originally posted at Chain Interaction
I will start by saying that there isn’t actually much wrecking in this book. It happens at the start and from there on out it doesn’t happen again. So, for those looking for an exploration of wrecking should probably look elsewhere. While this was slightly disappointing I persevered regardless because it was probably my fault for not reading the blurb properly. I wanted to give this book a fair chance and to see what it was about – if not wrecking.
What it is about is a woman called Mary Blight, who gets caught up in the many changes in her small Cornish town when a Methodist minister Gideon Stone decides to rebuild the church and to start converting the ‘backwards’ people to the way of the lord. Yes, it’s all about religion. I would definitely say that the author did his biblical research, there’s scripture laced throughout and you get the sense of the religious leanings from the time. I can’t say whether this is a good description of Methodist faith at the time, but what I do know of that denomination seemed to be represented. I liked the way this book pushed at the was Christianity conflicted with local tradition, there are a lot of what might be called pagan rituals and superstitions in Mary’s town that don’t quite agree with the new minister’s teachings. Obviously, this process of ‘civilising’ was so much worse outside of Britain, but it is interesting to view it through the lens of this small town.
What I did not enjoy was the way that Mary was written. A lot of her character could have been exactly what I enjoy. She had a lot of bite to her, she wasn’t willing to take nonsense from people, she did what she wanted and then dealt with the consequences as they came. But Mary’s only motivation seemed to be to find a wealthy man. That was pretty much it. You could argue that is more to do with the idea of bettering herself, of finding an easier life, of learning and changing and all those slightly better things. But it just reads as ‘everything I do will be in aid of getting a man and nothing else is really significant.’ Obviously, that could just be my reading of it, but I have come to expect a lot from female characters and Mary wasn’t quite enough for me. Since the book is totally focussed on Mary this made the entire thing fall a little flat for me.
The other problem I had with this book is that not very much happens. I’m not expecting this to be full of action sequences and explosions or anything, but for the number of significant moments in the story, this book is quite long. I felt like that offset the pacing somewhat and made reading it quite slow. Again, that’s a matter of personal preference and if you prefer a slower burn then this may be the book for you.
I can see a lot of people very much enjoying this story, however, I found it a little too slow and a little too religiously heavy for my liking. I would have also liked a little more character development for Mary.
My rating: 3/5 stars
I received a digital advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I will start by saying that there isn’t actually much wrecking in this book. It happens at the start and from there on out it doesn’t happen again. So, for those looking for an exploration of wrecking should probably look elsewhere. While this was slightly disappointing I persevered regardless because it was probably my fault for not reading the blurb properly. I wanted to give this book a fair chance and to see what it was about – if not wrecking.
What it is about is a woman called Mary Blight, who gets caught up in the many changes in her small Cornish town when a Methodist minister Gideon Stone decides to rebuild the church and to start converting the ‘backwards’ people to the way of the lord. Yes, it’s all about religion. I would definitely say that the author did his biblical research, there’s scripture laced throughout and you get the sense of the religious leanings from the time. I can’t say whether this is a good description of Methodist faith at the time, but what I do know of that denomination seemed to be represented. I liked the way this book pushed at the was Christianity conflicted with local tradition, there are a lot of what might be called pagan rituals and superstitions in Mary’s town that don’t quite agree with the new minister’s teachings. Obviously, this process of ‘civilising’ was so much worse outside of Britain, but it is interesting to view it through the lens of this small town.
What I did not enjoy was the way that Mary was written. A lot of her character could have been exactly what I enjoy. She had a lot of bite to her, she wasn’t willing to take nonsense from people, she did what she wanted and then dealt with the consequences as they came. But Mary’s only motivation seemed to be to find a wealthy man. That was pretty much it. You could argue that is more to do with the idea of bettering herself, of finding an easier life, of learning and changing and all those slightly better things. But it just reads as ‘everything I do will be in aid of getting a man and nothing else is really significant.’ Obviously, that could just be my reading of it, but I have come to expect a lot from female characters and Mary wasn’t quite enough for me. Since the book is totally focussed on Mary this made the entire thing fall a little flat for me.
The other problem I had with this book is that not very much happens. I’m not expecting this to be full of action sequences and explosions or anything, but for the number of significant moments in the story, this book is quite long. I felt like that offset the pacing somewhat and made reading it quite slow. Again, that’s a matter of personal preference and if you prefer a slower burn then this may be the book for you.
I can see a lot of people very much enjoying this story, however, I found it a little too slow and a little too religiously heavy for my liking. I would have also liked a little more character development for Mary.
My rating: 3/5 stars
I received a digital advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.