_inge's review against another edition
I wanted to read this book before I read any others, but after picking it up once I struggled to pick it up again. I couldn’t get on with the writing and felt a bit bored, yet at the same time I felt an oncoming sense of dread over what these women would likely still face. Reading up on some reviews there’s more to come, it turns out. It feels like every woman here is placed in the absolute worst situation and every man is awful. I get there’s a point to be made, but it’s not making for a book I want to come back to. It’s not gothic, as I’d seen it described, but purely depressing.
han2709's review against another edition
dark
sad
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? No
2.0
polliam's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
emmarose225's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mariac33's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
georgina_bawden's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this novel about three connected experiences of misogyny in three time periods in the same place. I think what made it compelling was the strange supernatural element that ran throughout. The little vignettes of random additional tales of violence against women (also in the same physical place) that were interspersed between chapters didn't add an enormous amount but perhaps aimed to convey the relentlessness and ubiquitousness of this sort of experience? They came off slightly too on the nose, perhaps a bit GCSE project social commentary. Evie Wyld writes so well though. Not a patch on All The Birds, Singing but still a good read.
bookwormed's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The perfect autumnal read - I really loved this book!
wendydt's review against another edition
5.0
Such a clever book. It is only after finishing that I realised how much of human behaviour has been covered. Left me with lots to think about.
e_z's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jessicapc's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly, it was a little hard to follow : so many characters, some of them barely present on the page, with a constant shuffle through time and even space...
I am quite unsure what the Sarah storyline was for. It was barely fleshed out, told from a male point of view (the only one of the book), and overall left me confused.
I loved the atmosphere of the Bass Rock, loved Ruth's character, and I could have done with nothing but her story : the result would probably have been a more compelling work of literature.
I am quite unsure what the Sarah storyline was for. It was barely fleshed out, told from a male point of view (the only one of the book), and overall left me confused.
I loved the atmosphere of the Bass Rock, loved Ruth's character, and I could have done with nothing but her story : the result would probably have been a more compelling work of literature.