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janey's review against another edition
4.0
I was impatient with it at first, but then it grew on me and I was glad to have persevered.
bbrassfield's review against another edition
3.0
The Western Wind is an interesting novel, at once satisfying and not. Satisfying because the reader really has a vivid picture of medieval village life painted for them. The detail is satisfying and accurate. The plot itself begins with what appears to be the sure death of the village's leading citizen and you think the plot is going to progress towards solving any mystery there might be surrounding the death. The problem is an actual body is never recovered, only an item of the man's clothing. Understandable perhaps as it is winter in England and the currents swift in the river. So it's understandable a body might not be recovered, at least near where it supposedly entered the water.
The mystery part of the story is slow moving and frustrating as the person who drives it forward is the rural dean who has arrived in time for the start of Lent to see how the local parish priest is keeping his flock in order. Due to the disappearance of the parish's wealthiest man, the dean demands a proper explanation. When the parish priest, John Reve, offers the likelihood that the death is down to a likely accident given the weather and circumstance, the dean cannot accept this because of who died, so he spends a large chunk of the story annoying everyone in the village trying to uncover deatails that are not to be found.
Meanwhile John Reve is busy taking confessions. Lots of confessions. This novel really hammers home just how dependent people in this small hamlet were on the presence or lack thereof of their God. Hidden motives for punishments and sins, not to mention the endless search for meaning in suffering is omnipresent. The only thing missing of course is God, who remains invisible and so these poor folk scamper about in darkness trying to make sense of every little thing that comes there way, determined to find meaning in it all from God and only God. Welcome to medieval Christianity. Possibly more frustrating than the modern version, but 'ruled' by a God who is just as absent.
Spolier: what John Reve does learn and keeps to himself is the fact that apparently Newman, the supposed drowning victim, wanted to die and came to his priest asking for spiritual tools before throwing himself in the river. The priest refuses this aid since suicide is a sin and Newman goes and does it anyway. John Reve is then compromised when the dead comes looking for answer. The novel ends with John Reve and Herry Carter coming to an agreement on what to tell the dean, rationalized by the priest as something like a miracle play, a demonstration of God's provenance in all things. The reader never learns if this explanation is satisfactory to the dean because the book ends rather abruptly before we see the plan put into play.
Like faith in God, we can only assume things work themselves out. My guess is they probably don't and the monks from over the hill eventually come to possess Oakham's prized wheat fields.
The mystery part of the story is slow moving and frustrating as the person who drives it forward is the rural dean who has arrived in time for the start of Lent to see how the local parish priest is keeping his flock in order. Due to the disappearance of the parish's wealthiest man, the dean demands a proper explanation. When the parish priest, John Reve, offers the likelihood that the death is down to a likely accident given the weather and circumstance, the dean cannot accept this because of who died, so he spends a large chunk of the story annoying everyone in the village trying to uncover deatails that are not to be found.
Meanwhile John Reve is busy taking confessions. Lots of confessions. This novel really hammers home just how dependent people in this small hamlet were on the presence or lack thereof of their God. Hidden motives for punishments and sins, not to mention the endless search for meaning in suffering is omnipresent. The only thing missing of course is God, who remains invisible and so these poor folk scamper about in darkness trying to make sense of every little thing that comes there way, determined to find meaning in it all from God and only God. Welcome to medieval Christianity. Possibly more frustrating than the modern version, but 'ruled' by a God who is just as absent.
Spolier: what John Reve does learn and keeps to himself is the fact that apparently Newman, the supposed drowning victim, wanted to die and came to his priest asking for spiritual tools before throwing himself in the river. The priest refuses this aid since suicide is a sin and Newman goes and does it anyway. John Reve is then compromised when the dead comes looking for answer. The novel ends with John Reve and Herry Carter coming to an agreement on what to tell the dean, rationalized by the priest as something like a miracle play, a demonstration of God's provenance in all things. The reader never learns if this explanation is satisfactory to the dean because the book ends rather abruptly before we see the plan put into play.
Like faith in God, we can only assume things work themselves out. My guess is they probably don't and the monks from over the hill eventually come to possess Oakham's prized wheat fields.
horsley123's review against another edition
1.0
I tried - I really did - but I fell asleep, started thinking about other things and just could not get into it. This book is full of rich descriptions of 15th century life; the mud, the poverty, the superstitions but seemed to be lacking a story line.
Apparently there is a mystery but maybe my concentration was so bad that I missed that bit. It was not for me and I am afraid I gave up.
Apparently there is a mystery but maybe my concentration was so bad that I missed that bit. It was not for me and I am afraid I gave up.
vickileigh00's review against another edition
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
4.0
megcarpenterr's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
spe31's review against another edition
Beautiful writing but boring story, and the murder mystery was not compelling enough to continue reading
jessietherose's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
alquick's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a lovely meditation on the Priesthood in the guise of a murder mystery. I think I made the mistake of focusing too much on the mystery and not enough on the character of John Reve, so I am hoping to re-read it maybe in a year or two.