Reviews

The Raconteur's Commonplace Book by Kate Milford

speevlovestoread's review

5.0

Such a good book! Never disappointed by Kate’s books. I love how these stories tie together nicely, and even give us some backstory about characters from her other books. Overall, five stars.

margot04's review

5.0

oh my GOD!!! this book !!!!! i literally love it so much - the magic, the storytelling, the ideas of what telling a story means, what it reveals, how the person who tells it changes it.

the first time I’ve ever read a book that firsts only exists in another book but then is actually written - it makes me so happy!! and that the author makes it as if it does actually exist - and that where it takes place, the characters, etc. also actually exist is just so lovely.

i just love how this book both has amazing individual tales and then how those tales build to create a larger, really lovely story. I’m gonna think about this for a long time

thebookwormkatie's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

. Found myself getting a little lost here and there, but overall I was intrigued by the stories. I can see this being a great book for a parent to read with their kiddo. The breakdown of each character telling their own story easily sets it up to be a “chapter a night” type of read. Will keep this on my middle grades recommendation list. 

andreajay's review

5.0

I’ve loved every Nagspeake book, but this one has a particularly magnificent ending. Five stars for that alone.

kileyglispie's review against another edition

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

zeezeemama11's review

4.0

Love it. Short stories in the middle.of a larger one. Milford never disappoints. What beautiful, unique storytelling.

katieeigenfeld's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

ashconklin's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kit_lit's review

adventurous mysterious relaxing slow-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

I love the world of Greenglass House. Kate Milford has created a wonderful strange magical world that is unlike any other I can think of. If you have read the first Greenglass House book, you will recognize this as the book featured in the story. I keep thinking about the lyrical way she describes places, elements and materials, like the iron and the playing cards.  

I do wish I had read the book faster; I got confused a bit with some of the characters. It works best if you read it all together instead of treating it like a collection of short stories. It made me want to reread GGH and explore the other series within that world. This book works on its own, but also ties in to all the other books that exist in this world. 

ravenclawkate's review

adventurous mysterious 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? Yes

5.0