caseyae96's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
disabledbookdragon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
chandraleereads's review against another edition
2.0
I really really wanted to like this book and maybe I would have if I read it at a different time or in a different mood. That said, I found the book long-winded and depressing. There were moments where I liked the story, but an unexpected and gruesome rape scene ended up erasing most all of the bits of good.
miranda_is_currently_reading's review against another edition
3.0
As a Classics major, I was immediately taken with the idea of a book that retold the story of Cassandra, a character history and the male writers who have handled her have often unfairly dismissed. This book, then, which catapults the character to center stage -only this time in Washington during WWII - was one I immediately knew I HAD to read.
As a whole, I really enjoyed this book. The plot was new and interesting, and there were just enough hints of the classical Cassandra to keep me interested and invested in her character. I also think the book highlighted the mistreatment of minorities and women during this time period, the latter of which was particularly true with the protagonist, Millie, the new Cassandra, who, in a world/society that does not believe in prophets like citizens of Ancient Greece, has her visions explained away by the assumption that she is mental or suffering from hysteria.
What I didn’t like about this book was the almost infuriating naïveté of Millie as well as the slowness of the story in certain places.
As a whole, I really enjoyed this book. The plot was new and interesting, and there were just enough hints of the classical Cassandra to keep me interested and invested in her character. I also think the book highlighted the mistreatment of minorities and women during this time period, the latter of which was particularly true with the protagonist, Millie, the new Cassandra, who, in a world/society that does not believe in prophets like citizens of Ancient Greece, has her visions explained away by the assumption that she is mental or suffering from hysteria.
What I didn’t like about this book was the almost infuriating naïveté of Millie as well as the slowness of the story in certain places.
mschlat's review against another edition
2.0
On the positive side, Shields writes the protagonist with a stunningly clear and disturbing voice. Mildred, who works at the Hanford Site during WWII as it produces plutonium, has regular visions about her own life and the lives who will be affected by atomic bombs. And Shields compellingly writes her an as outsider, with a perspective that alternates between naivete, mysticism, and the pain of knowing too much.
On the negative side, this turned out to be a much, much, much darker novel than I expected (and what the dust cover synopsis proffered), and I found it difficult to read the last third or so due to the content. Shields has a clear message with the novel, but it's not one I appreciated reading.
On the negative side, this turned out to be a much, much, much darker novel than I expected (and what the dust cover synopsis proffered), and I found it difficult to read the last third or so due to the content. Shields has a clear message with the novel, but it's not one I appreciated reading.
aamccartan's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the set up of this a lot: Central Washington, WWII, a little bit of a fantasy element with the Cassandra myth. I was really impressed at how well the author located her work in local and global history. And Mildred's voice I think really worked for most of the story. However, the conclusion was pretty rushed, which I think made the overall impact of what she was doing less than it could have been.
thelexingtonbookie's review against another edition
1.0
This eARC was provided through NetGalley from Henry Holt & Company in exchange for an honest review.
I hate it when I have to DNF a book, but even more so because this novel is from NetGalley, and a publisher approved me to read it. It feels like I let them down, but at the same time, it's about honesty in the review, is it not? Which is why I always explain my reasoning behind a DNF'd book.
In The Cassandra, the main character, Mildred, seems to be a pleasant girl looking for adventure- anything to take her from the monotony of caring for her heartbroken, ailing mother. Mildred is also a psychic whose visions mostly come during sleep, and are usually acted out while unconsciously asleep. The premise of the novel seemed interesting to me, the cover grabbed my attention, and I knew from it's description that there would be historical WWII context as Mildred applied to be a secretary at the Handford Research Center, which lead the development of the atomic bombs.
I got about 20% into the book, struggling with the obscure writing technique that made the character's voice difficult to understand in my head. She was gullible, smart, determined, afraid... so many emotions and just all over the place. I got frustrated with this, which furthered my disconnection to the story and it's main character. Trying to hang in there, I kept hoping for something to pique my interest the plot, but I kept feeling like I was getting whiplash from all the jumping around.
Therefore, I decided to not finish The Cassandra.
(This review will be posted on my blog (www.thelexingtonbookie.com) at a later date.)
I hate it when I have to DNF a book, but even more so because this novel is from NetGalley, and a publisher approved me to read it. It feels like I let them down, but at the same time, it's about honesty in the review, is it not? Which is why I always explain my reasoning behind a DNF'd book.
In The Cassandra, the main character, Mildred, seems to be a pleasant girl looking for adventure- anything to take her from the monotony of caring for her heartbroken, ailing mother. Mildred is also a psychic whose visions mostly come during sleep, and are usually acted out while unconsciously asleep. The premise of the novel seemed interesting to me, the cover grabbed my attention, and I knew from it's description that there would be historical WWII context as Mildred applied to be a secretary at the Handford Research Center, which lead the development of the atomic bombs.
I got about 20% into the book, struggling with the obscure writing technique that made the character's voice difficult to understand in my head. She was gullible, smart, determined, afraid... so many emotions and just all over the place. I got frustrated with this, which furthered my disconnection to the story and it's main character. Trying to hang in there, I kept hoping for something to pique my interest the plot, but I kept feeling like I was getting whiplash from all the jumping around.
Therefore, I decided to not finish The Cassandra.
(This review will be posted on my blog (www.thelexingtonbookie.com) at a later date.)
baearthur's review against another edition
3.0
There wasn't a single person to root for in this book. Very bleak.
kati3cruel's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely stunning. This is the first book I've read by Sharma but I'm glad it was - incredibly intense read. Sometimes I'm a bit hard to shock and find myself wishing for an author to go deeper into twisted territory that I want to explore, but with The Cassandra I was rapt the entire time with learning about Mildred and her visions, and all the strange, beautiful, desolate, and horrifying imagery, described so artfully. Bleakness levels on par with or even exceeding The Road, the standard by which I measure any so-called "dark" novel.
kreinard's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
I really wanted to like this one a lot more than I did. It had all the elements of a great story for me; the time-period, the drama, the characters who were somewhat dark and twisty. I think it was the whole future-telling aspect that I just couldn't get into.
It was a very poetic book. The language used and the depictions of Milly's visions were beautiful, but just not quite what I expected and they kind of put up a wall for me and created that gap that prevented me from really loving and investing in this book.
The drama was all good and I really enjoyed the majority of the characters, but I also felt a little lacking in closeness to the main character, Milly. For some reason, I didn't feel like I knew her like I felt like I knew the other characters. I couldn't quite get inside her head and understand her thoughts and actions by any means.
Overall, not a bad book. Just not one that I was expecting and one I would not necessarily read again. But that is most likely just my preferences, not a reflection of the quality of book that it is.
**Many thanks to Sharma Shields, Henry Holt and Company, and NetGalley for an advanced e-book in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this one a lot more than I did. It had all the elements of a great story for me; the time-period, the drama, the characters who were somewhat dark and twisty. I think it was the whole future-telling aspect that I just couldn't get into.
It was a very poetic book. The language used and the depictions of Milly's visions were beautiful, but just not quite what I expected and they kind of put up a wall for me and created that gap that prevented me from really loving and investing in this book.
The drama was all good and I really enjoyed the majority of the characters, but I also felt a little lacking in closeness to the main character, Milly. For some reason, I didn't feel like I knew her like I felt like I knew the other characters. I couldn't quite get inside her head and understand her thoughts and actions by any means.
Overall, not a bad book. Just not one that I was expecting and one I would not necessarily read again. But that is most likely just my preferences, not a reflection of the quality of book that it is.
**Many thanks to Sharma Shields, Henry Holt and Company, and NetGalley for an advanced e-book in exchange for an honest review.