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rosethomas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
mnwoznia's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
helenreak1's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sophiebmelville's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
champers4days's review against another edition
3.0
A solid addition to the ghost story genre, The Little Strange was set in the British countryside shortly after WWII and followed the character of Dr. Faraday, as he is introduced to, and becomes familiar with, life at Hundreds - a once grand estate that is falling into disrepair – as well as the estate’s similarly once grand occupants, a mother and her two adult children.
Waters was quick to deploy Dr. Faraday's medical background and logic as a filter through which to interpret the 'extraordinary' occurrences that began to take place at Hundreds. This logic applied against illogical phenomena created an effectively creepy, but not overly dramatic atmosphere.
I found one or two plot points dissatisfying, hence the three stars, but aside from these personal reservations, TLS is an interesting and all around good read!
Waters was quick to deploy Dr. Faraday's medical background and logic as a filter through which to interpret the 'extraordinary' occurrences that began to take place at Hundreds. This logic applied against illogical phenomena created an effectively creepy, but not overly dramatic atmosphere.
I found one or two plot points dissatisfying, hence the three stars, but aside from these personal reservations, TLS is an interesting and all around good read!
marrie_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death
ultramarine316's review against another edition
4.0
Readers going looking for capital H horror might be disappointed with this one but I found it very enjoyable and artfully done.
Hundred's Hall is a grand English Manor inhabited by a family of faded aristocrats who can't afford to maintain the house but can't bring themselves to give it up. Waters does an incredible job of evoking the time period and for the first few chapters, it's like reading a non-existent eighth season of Downton Abbey. (Which is a compliment.)
Things go downhill for the unfortunate family but not for the horror lover who appreciates atmosphere and and dread as much as gore. I've read that The Cherry Orchard was intended as a comedy but misinterpreted as a tragedy. The Little Stranger is the Cherry Orchard written as a tragedy.
The narrator a quintessential hard working but humble country doctor with very mixed feelings about the resident's of Hundred's Hall, equally repulsed by their outmoded class pretensions and drawn to the lost English glory they represent. Through his eyes, it is easy to sympathize with the family and see the potential for horror in their situation.
Hundred's Hall is a grand English Manor inhabited by a family of faded aristocrats who can't afford to maintain the house but can't bring themselves to give it up. Waters does an incredible job of evoking the time period and for the first few chapters, it's like reading a non-existent eighth season of Downton Abbey. (Which is a compliment.)
Things go downhill for the unfortunate family but not for the horror lover who appreciates atmosphere and and dread as much as gore. I've read that The Cherry Orchard was intended as a comedy but misinterpreted as a tragedy. The Little Stranger is the Cherry Orchard written as a tragedy.
The narrator a quintessential hard working but humble country doctor with very mixed feelings about the resident's of Hundred's Hall, equally repulsed by their outmoded class pretensions and drawn to the lost English glory they represent. Through his eyes, it is easy to sympathize with the family and see the potential for horror in their situation.
jseylar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75