katrinadalythompson's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
henryk_2557's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
clemmi's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book so much. Kate Grenville does an amazing job of documenting the slippages in human connection and how hard it can be if you don't find people inherently easy to be around in a world that values extraversion. She guides us through the sadness and happiness of the characters so well with little revealing moments of their past that are understated but really hit you hard. Plus, wonderful depictions of life in Australia, as always.
snicho1006's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bibliobethreads's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sarah_in_scotland's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readingspells's review against another edition
reflective
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? It's complicated
1.5
The only reason I didn't dnf this book is because I am reading all the Women's Prize for Fiction winners and this, astonishingly, is one of them.
This book is so slow. By the half way point the two main characters have barely even met yet. It was at the this point when I started to just skim read the book to find bits where something actually happens.
Also I have to say I am not a fan of the no speech marks for dialogue. It just makes it so much harder to read as you are half way through a sentence before you realise it's dialogue.
Of all the winners so far this is by far and away the won I enjoyed the least. I have absolutely no idea how it won but there you go. So often the way with literary prizes.
This book is so slow. By the half way point the two main characters have barely even met yet. It was at the this point when I started to just skim read the book to find bits where something actually happens.
Also I have to say I am not a fan of the no speech marks for dialogue. It just makes it so much harder to read as you are half way through a sentence before you realise it's dialogue.
Of all the winners so far this is by far and away the won I enjoyed the least. I have absolutely no idea how it won but there you go. So often the way with literary prizes.