kasiaolm's review against another edition
2.0
This book starts really well and goes downhill from there. The only good thing can say about it is that it's short. And I enjoyed descriptions of the plants and flowers in the story.
I'm okay with unlikeable characters, but I can not stand the dim-witted ones. Marina is beyond saving.
This just wasn't for me.
I'm okay with unlikeable characters, but I can not stand the dim-witted ones. Marina is beyond saving.
This just wasn't for me.
jola_g's review
4.0
Drowned is a non-vanilla story of a toxic relationship, although the scent of vanilla plays an important part in it. Calling this novel an immersive read would be an understatement, it was literally impossible to put it down. I drowned in it.
I loved the symbolic botanical imagery and the way Therese Bohman depicts nature. Her prose, deceptively calm but actually steaming with emotions, appealed to all my senses. Another bonus were some references to pre-Raphaelites and their paintings which I absolutely adore.
Please, don't check the details of the plot beforehand. The less you know in advance, the better.
John Everett Millais, Ophelia.
I loved the symbolic botanical imagery and the way Therese Bohman depicts nature. Her prose, deceptively calm but actually steaming with emotions, appealed to all my senses. Another bonus were some references to pre-Raphaelites and their paintings which I absolutely adore.
Please, don't check the details of the plot beforehand. The less you know in advance, the better.
John Everett Millais, Ophelia.
padancer's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
bookishnicole's review
1.0
More of my reviews are at: Paperback Princess
I really wish I hadn't read this book. It did absolutely nothing for me. In attempting to create mystery Bohman only created confusion. Perhaps it was just my version, but there was never any break for a new chapter or even those page break things that indicate that you're moving to a new time or scene. I always felt confused because one minute something big was about to happen and then the next, they were having dinner.
The ending also resolves absolutely nothing. We know nothing about the characters other than Marina-our narrator-being the worst sister ever and that Gabriel-the husband- is an ass! Marina is unsympathetic as she talks about growing distant from her boyfriend and growing toward her sister's husband. Stella, the wronged sister seems distant and untouchable. Even when we read a little in her diary, we don't really get to know her.
The idea behind the plot was strong, sort of. Bohman definitely could have beefed up this book more rather than leave it like the bare bones story it is. I'm not even left wanting more about I just wanted this to be over. The bright side is that because it is super short, its quick to read which is the only redeeming quality of this book.
Perhaps the most interesting part of this book was the foreshadowing about *Spoiler Alert* Stella's death and the first book that Gabriel wrote and an image that is discussed in the book. The sex scenes leave you with nothing but feeling unfulfilled and there are no thrills in this book. I only kept turning the pages in an effort to finish what I started.
I really wish I hadn't read this book. It did absolutely nothing for me. In attempting to create mystery Bohman only created confusion. Perhaps it was just my version, but there was never any break for a new chapter or even those page break things that indicate that you're moving to a new time or scene. I always felt confused because one minute something big was about to happen and then the next, they were having dinner.
The ending also resolves absolutely nothing. We know nothing about the characters other than Marina-our narrator-being the worst sister ever and that Gabriel-the husband- is an ass! Marina is unsympathetic as she talks about growing distant from her boyfriend and growing toward her sister's husband. Stella, the wronged sister seems distant and untouchable. Even when we read a little in her diary, we don't really get to know her.
The idea behind the plot was strong, sort of. Bohman definitely could have beefed up this book more rather than leave it like the bare bones story it is. I'm not even left wanting more about I just wanted this to be over. The bright side is that because it is super short, its quick to read which is the only redeeming quality of this book.
Perhaps the most interesting part of this book was the foreshadowing about *Spoiler Alert* Stella's death and the first book that Gabriel wrote and an image that is discussed in the book. The sex scenes leave you with nothing but feeling unfulfilled and there are no thrills in this book. I only kept turning the pages in an effort to finish what I started.