erinmcgawley's review against another edition
4.0
Very peaceful and well written. The plot runs really nicely and the characters are very well developed but I found the ending quite unsatisfying? Which maybe was the point but I still found it quite a quiet end to a really good book that should have had something more.
harpercline's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kayceeskidmore's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
oubliettex's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
lucinotlucy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
4.25
catherine_triel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
auntblh's review against another edition
3.0
I actually skimmed the last half of the book but I think that was more because of me than the book. The parts that I read, I liked but I don't think I will go back and read the parts I skimmed over. I am interested enough to watch the movie.
hannicogood's review against another edition
3.0
I have some mixed feelings about this book. Many of the events seemed so contrived and willfully strange that it was difficult for me to take Cassandra, the main character, seriously.
Additionally the book had two VERY exhausting male characters. Mortmain, her father, whose refusal to write or do literally anything else that would earn money, plunged the family into abject poverty. However they all tiptoe around him afraid to hurt his feelings and almost revere him as a genius. The violent undercurrents in his personality also didn’t age well. It almost seemed to me that Dodie Smith was implying it’s ok to push your family around and neglect them if it’s done for ART.
Slightly less bad was Simon, the love interest. I guess this is a *spoiler alert* but his wishy washy semi romantic interest in Cassandra, who is only around 17, seemed creepy to me. His age was never confirmed but to me he seemed like he would be at least ten years older than her. And this while he was engaged to her sister. Yikes.
And yet, I DID enjoy this book. I found Topaz, Miss Marcy (or Marcie?) and the Vicar to be very interesting surrounding characters. Also the lovely descriptions of the English countryside were very realistic and so cozy. It sort of made up for how annoyed I was with everyone else I suppose.
Additionally the book had two VERY exhausting male characters. Mortmain, her father, whose refusal to write or do literally anything else that would earn money, plunged the family into abject poverty. However they all tiptoe around him afraid to hurt his feelings and almost revere him as a genius. The violent undercurrents in his personality also didn’t age well. It almost seemed to me that Dodie Smith was implying it’s ok to push your family around and neglect them if it’s done for ART.
Slightly less bad was Simon, the love interest. I guess this is a *spoiler alert* but his wishy washy semi romantic interest in Cassandra, who is only around 17, seemed creepy to me. His age was never confirmed but to me he seemed like he would be at least ten years older than her. And this while he was engaged to her sister. Yikes.
And yet, I DID enjoy this book. I found Topaz, Miss Marcy (or Marcie?) and the Vicar to be very interesting surrounding characters. Also the lovely descriptions of the English countryside were very realistic and so cozy. It sort of made up for how annoyed I was with everyone else I suppose.
weeping_angel's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
jillgriff74's review against another edition
4.0
I got this for Evie and after she enjoyed it, I read it myself. It was very charming!