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hdbblog's review against another edition
2.0
I started out this book a little shaky, since I don't generally read a lot of Historical Fiction. However Agnes soon became a likable enough character that I was engaged. Although this isn't the quickest moving story, and perhaps it has more featured characters than necessary, I still found myself connected enough to Agnes that I wanted to finish this story. Her backstory unfolded a bit at a time and, even though I was fairly sure I knew where things were going, I wanted to see if I was right. I'll give Salley Vickers credit in that she created a very relatable and human character in Agnes. Her mistakes and successes were a beautiful thing.
What kept me from fully falling in love with this book though was how much it hopped back and forth in time, with little to no notice. I listened to the audio version of this, and so it made it even more difficult to get my footing every time we were thrown back to the days of young Agnes. On top of that, as the book neared its end, I felt myself becoming less and less interested in where things were headed. Agnes felt like she stalled in her growth as a person, and then the ending itself was far less than satisfactory. In fact, and this is coming from a reader who is very open minded, the ending left me with some really uncomfortable moral quandaries. I'm still not sure how I feel.
So, for a plot that kept my attention for the most part, a character whom I did enjoy, and a narrator who did a fairly good job, I'll give this two stars. I finished this book, and it was interesting journey. I just wouldn't read it again.
What kept me from fully falling in love with this book though was how much it hopped back and forth in time, with little to no notice. I listened to the audio version of this, and so it made it even more difficult to get my footing every time we were thrown back to the days of young Agnes. On top of that, as the book neared its end, I felt myself becoming less and less interested in where things were headed. Agnes felt like she stalled in her growth as a person, and then the ending itself was far less than satisfactory. In fact, and this is coming from a reader who is very open minded, the ending left me with some really uncomfortable moral quandaries. I'm still not sure how I feel.
So, for a plot that kept my attention for the most part, a character whom I did enjoy, and a narrator who did a fairly good job, I'll give this two stars. I finished this book, and it was interesting journey. I just wouldn't read it again.
ljm57's review against another edition
3.0
This story centres around Agnes Morel, the dedicated cleaner of the majestic cathedral in Chartres. Agnes, a foundling babe who was subsequently raised by Catholic nuns, has spent many unremarkable years in Chartres quietly going about her business of helping people where she can. But intertwined through the plot is the dramatic retelling of Agnes’s traumatic past which threatens to catch up with her & shatter the peace she has finally been able to achieve for herself. Like other readers, I was rather ambivalent about the start of the book but as I got to know Agnes better, understood the events that shaped her & met the assortment of other characters who shared her life past & present, it became a story that unfolded beautifully.
dozylocal's review against another edition
3.0
It was a good read. I liked the way things tied up at the end and am happy Agnes got her happy ending. There was even a surprise twist!
julesanne's review against another edition
3.0
A novel a quirky characters, which I always find interesting. I enjoyed the read, but not sure if I will remember much of this novel later. Nicely developed characters.
tobyyy's review against another edition
2.0
I really am not entirely sure what I feel about The Cleaner of Chartres. It feels like the author started out with the idea of making some grand statement about life, human frailty, and redemptive love... but never really got around to doing any of that.
Agnes was not a character that I disliked -- but nor did I find anything that I particularly liked about her. The plot never really seemed to coalesce, and I'm still not entirely sure what the purpose of the novel was. I think that the main two things that kept me from rating this book lower are these:
1) The use of descriptive language in this book is probably one of its best selling points.
2) Due to Vickers' past profession as a psychoanalyst, in The Cleaner of Chartres at least (I've not read any of her other books), she tends to plumb the depths of human character. The analyzing done of character and why it is the way it is interests me -- due to my own studies in psychology and social work.
Don't really recommend, sadly. I may try a different book by Vickers to see if it's any better, as I saw that other reviewers have said that Vickers is "hit or miss" when it comes to liking her books. But it's definitely not at the top of my book-related priorities.
Agnes was not a character that I disliked -- but nor did I find anything that I particularly liked about her. The plot never really seemed to coalesce, and I'm still not entirely sure what the purpose of the novel was. I think that the main two things that kept me from rating this book lower are these:
1) The use of descriptive language in this book is probably one of its best selling points.
2) Due to Vickers' past profession as a psychoanalyst, in The Cleaner of Chartres at least (I've not read any of her other books), she tends to plumb the depths of human character. The analyzing done of character and why it is the way it is interests me -- due to my own studies in psychology and social work.
Don't really recommend, sadly. I may try a different book by Vickers to see if it's any better, as I saw that other reviewers have said that Vickers is "hit or miss" when it comes to liking her books. But it's definitely not at the top of my book-related priorities.
eleganthedgehogs's review against another edition
Relatively light romance, Elizabeth felt Sally Vickers books are generally chick lit for usually serious readers. Penny felt there was more to her books than that.
Think some had heard her talk at a recent book festival…
Think some had heard her talk at a recent book festival…
katjm's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
trm's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
mazza57's review against another edition
2.0
This book was difficult to read It had a stilted narrative, jumping in time from now to then and even before that. Its story telling was clunky and had a wandering POV. There were good ideas hiding but the author really failed to portray them in any meaningful way