sparkwaren's review against another edition
2.0
Kind of strange, reading this during a time when thousands of people are in quarantine.
graceoleary's review against another edition
4.5
i was so close to giving this a 5 and i can’t quite put my finger on what it is that’s stopping me but anyway still really enjoyed this! one of the few historical fictions i’ve read and i’m obsessed, bonus that it was set in sunderland even though it could have been set in an english industrial town really, loved the writing style, really fast paced plot but still with some interesitng themes about life and death to think about and some interesting historical context as a history student obvs, i could see why some people would hateeee this style of writing but i think regardless of you like it or not it should be seen that it is clever writing clearly from a confident author
cait_78's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, and Child death
Moderate: Vomit
pattieod's review against another edition
4.0
Others have called this "melodramatic" and "Dickensian", and I'll have to go with those descriptions as well. Quite the ride, if dark.
emmy13's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
miocenemama's review against another edition
3.0
This book was thoroughly depressing. At the same time, I became extremely engaged in the characters and plot development. It is well-researched and well-developed. Some of the writing techniques struck me as strange, but I believe she was using a style similar to books that would have been written in the time period she is portraying. Using the second person to begin the narrative and starting with a peripheral character was a little off-putting to me in the beginning as were the multiple narrators but by the end of the book, it started to make sense. The portrayal of the class structure and the poverty of the poor working class is devastating in its starkness. The story takes place during one of the cholera epidemics in England and shortly after the Burk and Hare murders. Reading this during the Covid pandemic made me really think of how much people really haven't changed. There is still the same cry that the pandemic and any regulations to control it are a government plot against working people and small businesses. There is still mistrust of the medical community. And there is still a vast divide between the rich and poor.
princessleia4life's review against another edition
I really did not like this book.
lindacbugg's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to Dianah for telling me about this title! :)
The ending was so great!! OMG This is a wonderful book.
The ending was so great!! OMG This is a wonderful book.
marik0n's review against another edition
2.0
** 2.5/5***
I received this book as a present in New Year’s Even of ’17. The first time I read it I didn’t like it. At all. However, I decided to give it one more chance. I wasn’t really disappointed this time.
The book revolves around the status quo, the interactions of the social classes, the beliefs and the inequalities that dominate in the English society of the 19th century. Great stress is being put on the medical factor. This period, there is a great movement of doctors, trying to upgrade their knowledge about the human body and medical in general. The problem is, that this try, requires bodies. The known and multi-used, through the ages, technique of stealing dead bodies out of their graves is being performed. Poor people in the time, are greatly ruled by religion and superstitions. I really enjoyed the realistic depiction of the climate and this particular period of time, although in certain parts, the writer was overdoing it.
It starts on its own special way, with an omniscient narrator who clarifies for us the time and space. He also introduces us to the protagonist.
Generally, it was really interesting, due to the realistic depictions of the period’s mood. The end was quite interesting.
I received this book as a present in New Year’s Even of ’17. The first time I read it I didn’t like it. At all. However, I decided to give it one more chance. I wasn’t really disappointed this time.
The book revolves around the status quo, the interactions of the social classes, the beliefs and the inequalities that dominate in the English society of the 19th century. Great stress is being put on the medical factor. This period, there is a great movement of doctors, trying to upgrade their knowledge about the human body and medical in general. The problem is, that this try, requires bodies. The known and multi-used, through the ages, technique of stealing dead bodies out of their graves is being performed. Poor people in the time, are greatly ruled by religion and superstitions. I really enjoyed the realistic depiction of the climate and this particular period of time, although in certain parts, the writer was overdoing it.
It starts on its own special way, with an omniscient narrator who clarifies for us the time and space. He also introduces us to the protagonist.
Generally, it was really interesting, due to the realistic depictions of the period’s mood. The end was quite interesting.