orndal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Murder, Racial slurs, Bullying, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Ableism, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Cultural appropriation, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Classism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
phantomgecko's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
These poor women really were in a hell of societal convention. Not allowed to do anything without a disinterested uncle's consent. Not allowed to talk to each other plainly. Forced to walk on eggshells and hypervigilant to even the merest shadow of an insult. If only they could call everyone's BS and just LEAVE.
Like, at first I thought Marian was being paranoid. But no, Count Fosco and his wife really were sneaky little snakes. (Tho, the stubborn disgust at Fosco's praise was odd to me. Like, kinda a black and white moral superiority complex thing. As if because Fosco did some sketchy stuff, his very gaze could poison her or something.) (Oh, also, Fosco's condemnation of English society and crime was kinda weird. Was the author speaking through him as a form of social critique, or was the author trying to frame that line of thinking as obviously wrong because a villain was voicing it?)
In other news, the mystery threaded throughout, Percival Glyde's big secret, was v interesting.
Funny to me that this novel came out right after A Tale of Two Cities and both of them contain "twin" characters.
Anyway, I liked it. Not a top favorite, but worth the read.
Moderate: Confinement, Fatphobia, Animal death, Body shaming, Classism, Emotional abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcoholism
reading_historical_romance's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Grief
ok7a's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Death, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
linguisticali's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent
the_books_music_life's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
My only problems with this book are the ones I have with older books like this and it's mainly the way women are portrayed and treated. But, as I said I understand because of the time period. My other problem with older books like this is the rambling aspect. Two chapters of nothing but explanations and useless rambling could in all reality fit on 1 page.
Despite the few issues I had, I rather actually enjoyed the two part mystery. Mystery one of who is the Woman in White is and later on the mystery involving Laura Fairlie were both on their own interesting but the way the author combined them was very well done. You have characters you like/love and characters you absolutely hate (if you read it you know who I mean) and it's done in a way that you have a real reason for disliking them.
Anther problem I had with he book was some of the revels. I felt very confused by a couple of the big revels and had to look up what was actually happening because the language and hidden meaning completely flew past me.
I would recommend the audiobook. The narrator has a soothing voice that is honestly perfect for the story in my opinion.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexism, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Terminal illness, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent
pedanther's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness
Moderate: Ableism, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Fatphobia
Minor: Xenophobia, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, and Animal cruelty
mattypallett's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Death
kirstensbookshelf's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Minor: Death
my_plant_library's review
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Death