Reviews

A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne

katieminie's review

reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

Picked this up for a book club without reading the synopsis and I’m so glad I did! This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, despite having an entirely despicable main character. It was amazing how Boyne was able to create Maurice as a master manipulator that almost made me sympathize with him…almost. Really enjoyed the multiple storylines throughout the novel and how nicely the end was wrapped up. Looking forward to reading more of his work!

lisaloop96's review

dark reflective fast-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

3.5

dreamofmylife's review against another edition

3.0

3.5

rbylll's review

3.0

***These are my random thoughts after finishing the book. Some of the thoughts are an overall review of the book, or any questions/feelings that nagged at me throughout. There will almost definitely be spoilers. Read at your own risk.***   ‐----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



3 stars

Strong beginning led to predictable ending (that he'd ending up confessing all like Erich)
Writing in each section almost felt too different
Erich ended up being the most interesting character in a way
Definitely Ripley-esque

leasttorque's review

5.0

A tragic, horrific, brilliantly written and constructed tale of an ambitious literary psychopath. In each of the main parts of the book, you know what’s coming, as I believe the author intended, but cannot look away. The reader forges on, hoping for a final reckoning, but I will not spoil it for you here.

jackeller's review

5.0

LOVED. It.

claire_fuller_writer's review against another edition

3.0

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but somehow it wasn't this. This fits the psychological thriller genre, except while that is often in a domestic setting, A Ladder to the Sky has a broader scope. There were lots of things I enjoyed: the literary jokes and tropes (all exaggerated but I recognised many writerly things), the pace (I had to read on), and the structure (the different points of view, and the chapter headings). But most of the story was too far-fetched for me to fully fall into it and accept what was happening. All books manipulate their readers (here, the author wants the reader to feel sad, here the author wants the reader to think this, or that), and usually I barely notice, but in this novel (as in a lot of psychological thrillers, even well-written ones such as this is), the manipulation is very evident and seeing it made me irritated and pulled me out of the story. The manipulation is at its worst when Boyne expects us to accept that certain characters at certain points will spill all their darkest secrets to a relative stranger. I simply wasn't able to suspend my disbelief. Perhaps that's my failing and not Boyne's.
So, enjoyable but nothing more.

mynameisgreg's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

4.5

Wow I had such a great time with this. Sometimes you just need to read a really amazing story right?

Maurice Swift is such a  horrible main character and yet I couldn’t wait to see what devious tricks he would get up to next. It really is such a great character study, as well as a page-turning story. As the layers to his character start to peel away I became more horrified but also more fascinated by him. So good.

madders500's review

funny sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

scottk1265's review

5.0

I really loved this book, because it really made me HATE Maurice Swift. And, at the end of the day, I am fairly sure that Mr. Boyne wanted me to hate Maurice. I see what you did there John Boyne. I see it and admire you for it. Two Boyne novels, two Five star reviews?!? Coincidence? I think not.