sammilittlejohns's review against another edition
4.0
The more I think about this book the more I like it. I think partly, I'm not very smart, and take things as face value whilst i'm reading, even though I do try to look out for clues! But the reason then I give this 4 stars is because I keep wondering about this book after, and the more I thought about it, the more I understood in hindsight?? There is so much clever symbolism in this book that I missed.
I loved the style of writing this was in, like styled Victorian, and the fact the author kept bringing the clues back so you didn't have to remember every detail by yourself. The characters and story are incredibly interesting, and not really anything I've read before, so it has points for being unique. Plus the story is nicely summed up at the end, and for me the jumping back and forward in time wasn't confusing, it was just an interesting way of telling the story.
I loved the style of writing this was in, like styled Victorian, and the fact the author kept bringing the clues back so you didn't have to remember every detail by yourself. The characters and story are incredibly interesting, and not really anything I've read before, so it has points for being unique. Plus the story is nicely summed up at the end, and for me the jumping back and forward in time wasn't confusing, it was just an interesting way of telling the story.
maggiefan's review against another edition
2.0
I did not like this book, though it had potential, and it's sad.
manoeklambregts's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
3.0
jenheartbooks's review against another edition
4.0
It took me 150 or so pages to really get into this book, although the writing was brilliant and extraordinarily insightful. The astrology was utterly lost on me, as I expect it is on most. The deeper I got, the more intrigued I became, though the number of characters caused some confusion. By the last 50 pages it seemed Catton was just anxious to finish, and it felt very rushed. I also apparently missed something (or somethings) because there were a few things that seemed unresolved. Primary among them * SPOILER ALERT*
who killed Carver? I really should give the book 3 stars due to the unsatisfactory ending, but I otherwise enjoyed it so much that I just couldn't.
who killed Carver? I really should give the book 3 stars due to the unsatisfactory ending, but I otherwise enjoyed it so much that I just couldn't.
leslieto13's review against another edition
3.0
While the mystery is interesting, the additional details of astrology add almost nothing to the plot and the last 20% of the novel seems like an afterthought and almost unnecessary, even though it does help stitch the central plot together.
cate_zh's review against another edition
3.0
had promise, but then overlong. the ending felt squashed
babsbutler14's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.75