Reviews

Pure by Andrew Miller

reddresspress's review

dark informative reflective 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

4.25

mcmvxxiii's review

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

hattieb2000's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Unfortunately for most of the book I was quite bored. But I can’t deny the writing was amazing. The characterisation was detailed and unique, and the subtle references to the impending French Revolution made it a great piece of historical fiction. 

jay_hobday's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

fhammond_36's review

4.0

Sort of interesting in a gruesome digging up bodies work project way. Plus lashings of French history that you can almost smell. And then some vague illusions to things going badly that never quite get realised - what was in the cellar??? - and other things that definitely go badly. Ignore the blurb on the back. Yes it is in the book but not really the essence of the thing. Some things are so vividly described in incredible language and so much is obscurely hinted at and it’s probably intentional and I’m just too tired or ignorant of the greater context that I missed it. All that said, I did like the side characters (I always seem to) and you do want to find out what happens. So I quite liked it in the end. Good discussion at our book club too.
Would love to see the pistachio suit in real life too!

charlotte113's review

I didn't get particularly far in, and put the book down and never picked it up, there was nothing compelling me to pick it up, and to be honest, I can't remember what was said in those first 7 pages i actually read.
maybe i'll try it again some day

angus_mckeogh's review

1.0

How was this book so dull? The book itself is beautiful. The back cover description was intriguing and interesting. The text itself...dull. The first 80 pages were marginal but kept me going. The rest of the book was drudgery just to pick it up. So very dull.

benjaminparris's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

celtic67's review

1.0

I'm sorry but this book just didn't appeal to me

sophiewelsh's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0