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12dejamoo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
So when you're in school and you're writing book reviews, they always say that it's the worst sin to say 'it made the reader want to read on' but like that's the best way I could describe this book. I can't explain why, but it was insanely compelling. It didn't feel like 500 pages at all. I really did not expect to like this, whether it is because of a big book fear, or the blurb or whatever. It's far from my favourite book ever but it's definitely going to stay in my mind for quite some time.
I will say there wasn't much in the way of resolution. It probably deserves closer to 3 or 3.5 stars because of this, but I remain overly forgiving of flaws so I'll leave it at 4. I do think you get a lot of build-up, and a general creepy atmosphere for a slightly unsatisfying ending. You never really get an explanation for anything, and whilst some things were better (in my opinion) left unexplained (for instance, the identity of Andres Corelli), there could have been more in the way of just wrapping things up and letting the reader know the intention behind things.
There were also a lot of creepy and/or mysterious details which served to build the atmosphere, but which did not actually contribute to the plot and were not brought up again. A good example of this is the scene near the beginning in the brothel, which is never mentioned nor thought of again. The only reason I even remember that it happened is because of a review on the back by the Mail on Sunday which states that this book contains 'great sex' to which I say, did you even read past that scene where they kissed and then it faded to black, or did you just assume that that promised 'great sex' to come and added it to the review? This is irrelevant to the book, but I just had to put that thought somewhere.
I do like the whole idea of the 'Cemetery of Forgotten Books' and I'd be intrigued to read some other books in this series to get more of it. This whole book feels like, as well as a creepy mystery, an ode to books and those who love them, and that is really wonderful to read.
All in all, I don't know why I liked this book so much but I did.
I will say there wasn't much in the way of resolution. It probably deserves closer to 3 or 3.5 stars because of this, but I remain overly forgiving of flaws so I'll leave it at 4. I do think you get a lot of build-up, and a general creepy atmosphere for a slightly unsatisfying ending. You never really get an explanation for anything, and whilst some things were better (in my opinion) left unexplained (for instance, the identity of Andres Corelli), there could have been more in the way of just wrapping things up and letting the reader know the intention behind things.
There were also a lot of creepy and/or mysterious details which served to build the atmosphere, but which did not actually contribute to the plot and were not brought up again. A good example of this is the scene near the beginning in the brothel, which is never mentioned nor thought of again. The only reason I even remember that it happened is because of a review on the back by the Mail on Sunday which states that this book contains 'great sex' to which I say, did you even read past that scene where they kissed and then it faded to black, or did you just assume that that promised 'great sex' to come and added it to the review? This is irrelevant to the book, but I just had to put that thought somewhere.
I do like the whole idea of the 'Cemetery of Forgotten Books' and I'd be intrigued to read some other books in this series to get more of it. This whole book feels like, as well as a creepy mystery, an ode to books and those who love them, and that is really wonderful to read.
All in all, I don't know why I liked this book so much but I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, Suicide, Police brutality, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
malloryfitz's review against another edition
dark
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident