bookishnorth's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
eveshilton's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
laudea98's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
katyla's review against another edition
4.0
A weird novel, but lyrical, with elements of myth wound up in it. I enjoyed the way the landscape and weather was evoked to create an almost-mystical atmosphere. I would recommend this author and would like to read other works by her. Great writing style.
susanlawson's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this story (read over 24 hours in Orkney) about a 60 year old Professor on honeymoon on one of the less inhabited Orkney Islands with his 21 year old former student / wife. She has asked to go to Orkney where she had lived as a baby and where her long lost father had come from. She spends her time on the shore, staring out to sea in all weathers while her husband watches her from the window of their little cottage. They tell each other stories about Selkies and magical creatures and the husband's obsession with his young wife grows as she slips from his grasp towards her destiny.
zoebaillie's review against another edition
2.0
1.5. This was a really disappointing and frustrating read. I was excited to read it as it'd been endorsed by writers I enjoy, and "spooky women in rugged environments" is a beloved genre of mine.
From the first few pages I already realised 1) I hate this narrator and 2) I was pretty sure where the plot was going, but on both counts I optimistically hoped for better. I was convinced right until the last chapter that the (vain, pompous, patronising, self-absorbed) narrator was going to either gain some kind of insight or failing that, have his arse handed to him. I was also convinced that something other than the extremely obvious "true nature" of his wife would turn into something more interesting, but no.
Maybe you're *supposed* to hate the narrator, but honestly a whole novel told from the smug male gaze was too much to stomach. There was no twist, no commentary on this, and the descriptions of sex and his wife's body and her "lilac-tipped breasts" read like the ill advised erotic writings of an aging telegraph journo who thinks he's a stud.
In fact the whole book read like an aging telegraph journo who thinks he's a stud, and *maybe* that was on purpose but... Why? When there is already just so much of this writing by pompous men impressed with their own intelligence about just how mysterious women are, why ape it? Well, the book went down well with literary types who presumably didn't want to vomit at the endless word-play games the couple played and the extremely outdated stereotypical portrayal of "wild" Orcadians and their medieval ways, and tortured descriptions of the sea.
Manic selkie dream girl.
From the first few pages I already realised 1) I hate this narrator and 2) I was pretty sure where the plot was going, but on both counts I optimistically hoped for better. I was convinced right until the last chapter that the (vain, pompous, patronising, self-absorbed) narrator was going to either gain some kind of insight or failing that, have his arse handed to him. I was also convinced that something other than the extremely obvious "true nature" of his wife would turn into something more interesting, but no.
Maybe you're *supposed* to hate the narrator, but honestly a whole novel told from the smug male gaze was too much to stomach. There was no twist, no commentary on this, and the descriptions of sex and his wife's body and her "lilac-tipped breasts" read like the ill advised erotic writings of an aging telegraph journo who thinks he's a stud.
In fact the whole book read like an aging telegraph journo who thinks he's a stud, and *maybe* that was on purpose but... Why? When there is already just so much of this writing by pompous men impressed with their own intelligence about just how mysterious women are, why ape it? Well, the book went down well with literary types who presumably didn't want to vomit at the endless word-play games the couple played and the extremely outdated stereotypical portrayal of "wild" Orcadians and their medieval ways, and tortured descriptions of the sea.
Manic selkie dream girl.
readinginfinland's review against another edition
5.0
What an absolutely beautiful novel! Stunningly descriptive yet sparse at the same time, it builds tension throughout. Set in the ruggedly beautiful Orkney Islands, it’s a love story of a different kind.
alisha247's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lafee's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a perfect example of what happens when you give more weight to prose than plot. I had high hopes, especially considering the numerous plaudits crammed in all over the covers, but ultimately it was a bit of a let down.
Orkney is the story of an ageing college professor who marries one of his young students, and follows how their new life together unfolds as they honeymoon on the ever changing Orkney coast. Amy Sackville writes beautifully, and if this book was a short story it might have been an interesting read. As it stands it's far too long, particularly because the first half of the book is mainly repetitive descriptions of how attractive the professor finds his new wife, which very quickly became tedious. Had this book been written by a man, I would have given up on it. As it was, I pressed on and whilst the second half of the book is definitely better than the first - in that things actually happen in it to progress the small semblance of story we're given - I was still left wanting. The whole thing feels unfinished, and though I can see what Sackville was trying to establish with the mind numbing repetitions, it falls far short of the mark.
2.5 stars, all garnered from the beautiful descriptions of the island landscape.
Orkney is the story of an ageing college professor who marries one of his young students, and follows how their new life together unfolds as they honeymoon on the ever changing Orkney coast. Amy Sackville writes beautifully, and if this book was a short story it might have been an interesting read. As it stands it's far too long, particularly because the first half of the book is mainly repetitive descriptions of how attractive the professor finds his new wife, which very quickly became tedious. Had this book been written by a man, I would have given up on it. As it was, I pressed on and whilst the second half of the book is definitely better than the first - in that things actually happen in it to progress the small semblance of story we're given - I was still left wanting. The whole thing feels unfinished, and though I can see what Sackville was trying to establish with the mind numbing repetitions, it falls far short of the mark.
2.5 stars, all garnered from the beautiful descriptions of the island landscape.