disreputabledog's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-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
evanbernstein's review against another edition
3.0
This was a very well written novel, but in the end, it was fine to read, but I didn't really like it or love it.
The setting for the story was at a curing house of tuberculosis in the 1910s in upstate new york. As a piece of historical fiction, I thought it was lovely: I got swept into a part of the world I did not know about and learned a lot about the time and the people of the time.
My biggest complaint with the novel was done deliberately by the author, and I understand why, but it left me not craving to pick the novel up again: it was set in a setting where the people have to be very slow and still or they risk a relapse of tuberculosis so the overall pace of the novel is extremely slow. This works as a literary device, but kept me distant from wanting to pick up and read more.
However, I thoroughly loved the device of having the narrator be the "we" (I've never read a book in first person plural before).
As I said, it is a well crafted novel, with good characters who grow and change throughout the story, but it didn't captivate me as much as I'd like.
The setting for the story was at a curing house of tuberculosis in the 1910s in upstate new york. As a piece of historical fiction, I thought it was lovely: I got swept into a part of the world I did not know about and learned a lot about the time and the people of the time.
My biggest complaint with the novel was done deliberately by the author, and I understand why, but it left me not craving to pick the novel up again: it was set in a setting where the people have to be very slow and still or they risk a relapse of tuberculosis so the overall pace of the novel is extremely slow. This works as a literary device, but kept me distant from wanting to pick up and read more.
However, I thoroughly loved the device of having the narrator be the "we" (I've never read a book in first person plural before).
As I said, it is a well crafted novel, with good characters who grow and change throughout the story, but it didn't captivate me as much as I'd like.
rfarmer1972's review
reflective
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
3.0
truestorydesu's review against another edition
3.0
"Oh, hey another book about a tuberculosis sanatorium! I'll read it!" - my immediate reaction to this book.
It took me about a year to actually get to reading this book. It was...ok. I mean, writing wise, 4/5. Story wise? I really couldn't get into any of the characters. They all seemed flat to me. I guess it has to do with the narrative style - the narrator is an anonymous person in the sanatorium, who basically narrates as a group - he refers to "we" as in all the patients. It was actually a pretty cool narrative choice (TB sanatoriums were notoriously cliquish so that this story is told as the result of all sorts of rumors and speculation makes sense). But the end result was that you really don't get a feel for any of the characters. Miles is a megadouche, Naomi is a drama queen, Eudora needs to grow a spine, and Leo needs a personality, stat. In fact, almost everyone was pretty devoid of personality.
Also, lots of stuff in here about early chemistry. Nearly put me to sleep as it's not my thing, but if you like discussions about Mendeleev, Einstein and a whole ton of outdated chemistry, then this book is definitely for you.
If only Goodreads would let me do half-stars! This book deserves a 3.5 - not as low as a three, but not as high as a four either.
It took me about a year to actually get to reading this book. It was...ok. I mean, writing wise, 4/5. Story wise? I really couldn't get into any of the characters. They all seemed flat to me. I guess it has to do with the narrative style - the narrator is an anonymous person in the sanatorium, who basically narrates as a group - he refers to "we" as in all the patients. It was actually a pretty cool narrative choice (TB sanatoriums were notoriously cliquish so that this story is told as the result of all sorts of rumors and speculation makes sense). But the end result was that you really don't get a feel for any of the characters. Miles is a megadouche, Naomi is a drama queen, Eudora needs to grow a spine, and Leo needs a personality, stat. In fact, almost everyone was pretty devoid of personality.
Also, lots of stuff in here about early chemistry. Nearly put me to sleep as it's not my thing, but if you like discussions about Mendeleev, Einstein and a whole ton of outdated chemistry, then this book is definitely for you.
If only Goodreads would let me do half-stars! This book deserves a 3.5 - not as low as a three, but not as high as a four either.
stelepami's review against another edition
5.0
A most excellent book; it even ties together some of the frustrating short stories in [b:Ship Fever|92267|Ship Fever|Andrea Barrett|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1228688349s/92267.jpg|88991] and manages to connect them to [b:Voyage of the Narwhal|763952|Voyage of the Narwhal|Andrea Barrett|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178144330s/763952.jpg|932103], without intruding on the fascinating story set forth in its own pages.
Situated in a small town in New York state during the 1910's, the book focuses on the lives of patients in a tuberculosis sanatorium and their caretakers. Weaving romance with intellectual curiosity, [a:Andrea Barrett|53005|Andrea Barrett|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-F-50x66.jpg] draws the reader into the world she's created. Less focused on the origins of science than her other works I've read, The Air We Breathe still manages to convey the excitement of discovery and scientific method.
Situated in a small town in New York state during the 1910's, the book focuses on the lives of patients in a tuberculosis sanatorium and their caretakers. Weaving romance with intellectual curiosity, [a:Andrea Barrett|53005|Andrea Barrett|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-F-50x66.jpg] draws the reader into the world she's created. Less focused on the origins of science than her other works I've read, The Air We Breathe still manages to convey the excitement of discovery and scientific method.
agmaynard's review
3.0
Third star is for the stated "collective responsibility" that closes. Otherwise, the "we" narrative device is distancing. Also found a bit too much of what felt to me "info dumping" and list-making sentences. Historical fiction is hard!
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