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fiannah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
3.0
lambsears's review against another edition
3.0
Again, I wish we could give half stars, because three is not quite enough, four too enthusiastic.
This was an easy book to read, and one I wanted to like and was interested enough in to keep reading, but one I found ultimately irritating.
Wyld has a point to make about male violence towards women, but does so in a heavy handed and disjointed manner.
The story line jumps around a little too much. The peripheral characters are so briefly glimpsed as to almost seem like flag waving, and the main threads of narrative are unsatisfying, with just too many histrionic, overwrought and passively ineffectual women for my liking.
Feels like it's all trying a little too hard.
This was an easy book to read, and one I wanted to like and was interested enough in to keep reading, but one I found ultimately irritating.
Wyld has a point to make about male violence towards women, but does so in a heavy handed and disjointed manner.
The story line jumps around a little too much. The peripheral characters are so briefly glimpsed as to almost seem like flag waving, and the main threads of narrative are unsatisfying, with just too many histrionic, overwrought and passively ineffectual women for my liking.
Feels like it's all trying a little too hard.
juli_mod's review against another edition
3.0
langsam nur nimmt das Buch an Fahrt auf: es verspricht ja eine gothic novel über Hexen und Frauengemeinschaften zu sein. Doch nur mühsam finden die Frauen zusammen, würden vielleicht gar nicht zusammenfinden, wenn die Männer des Buches nicht so grotesk gewalttätig wären. Die sehr grafische Beschreibung von Gewalt gegen Frauen, die mehrfach die Kapitel des Buches abschließt, bleibt mir ein Rätsel. Sie wirken so übersteigert, dass man ihnen die vermeintliche Authentizität absprechen will, obwohl man natürlich weiß, dass es sehr wohl so passiert sein wird. Doch mehr als diese Gewaltakte hat mich die Karte über Frauenmorde, die eine der Figuren erklärt, bewegt. Zumal die Einzelschicksale nicht benannt werden, man ist kein stummer Zeuge, da Angaben fehlen. Und es beschäftigt mich: 500 Seiten durchaus solider Figurengestatung, interessante Plotentwicklung, atmosphärische Sprache - aber ich schreibe nur über die 20 Seiten, auf denen vergewaltigt und getötet wird? Für wen sind diese Seiten auch geschrieben? Frauen wissen das schon und Männer können es von sich wegschieben, weil es zu krass ist… schade, da wurde was verschenkt.
svartwasp's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
gabbastard's review against another edition
3.0
While The Bass Rock captured the essence of domestic violence through multiple times periods, it had not done it in a way which is pragmatic. Evie Wyld's physical and emotional world building are excellent and immersive, almost ripping you out of your space. While I was on the edge of my seat the entire read, I find the message falls flat as a horror and a PSA
kookikrissie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
sommerblond's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Bullying, Blood, and Murder
keepreadingbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
I think there are two types of feminist novels – the empowering, bad-ass ones (like Joan, which I read prior to this one) and the heartbreaking, depressing and/or angry ones.
The Bass Rock falls firmly into the latter category. Every other page makes you think, “fucking men”, and in all honesty, it can be a little overwhelming. There are the big things, like femicide, violence, abuse (both physical and psychological), but in-between are also all the little things, like subtle threats, humiliations, belittling, disregard, neglect and blind male entitlement and privilege. There are all of two decent male characters in this book, and I can’t help but think that that’s not very representative of real life – in any of the three time periods. Personally, I think the point could still have come across with a much subtler approach.
That being said, there is no question this book is written from a place of anger and injustice and of wanting to hammer the full truth of the female experience into the head of anyone reading it, and I can empathise with that. It feels important. And while I think it’s occasionally excessively bleak, I still became sort of fond of this book and especially the mid-1900s timeline. It really left a mark, and it gives a (perhaps slightly intense) idea of what it means and has meant throughout history to be a woman. Prepare to get angry.
My two big grievances are the sheer volume of misery at the hands of men (so make sure to read it when you’re in the right headspace for it) and the fact that the 1700s storyline felt lazy and underdeveloped. It was needed for the ghost element, but otherwise could easily have been left out.