and_cont's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.75
kath61's review against another edition
3.0
Very well crafted but a terrible sense of pathos and tragedy runs throughout. I would not recommend it because of the pervasive sense of sadness it leaves you with.
meiko's review against another edition
3.0
Finally. My February entry for February is done, at the tail end of March, 2022.
So far I'm failing terribly at my 12 in 12 challenge, despite still meeting my reading quota to meet my annual goal of 52 books.
I just always find more interesting stuff to read, I guess.
This is supposedly a tragic English love triangle story.
But surely, I find myself kept musing, surely you're supposed to love at least one side of that triangle somewhere if not early on, then at least halfway down the book?
That, never happened.
I mean even by the end I was feeling numb for the three main characters.
I found myself constantly wondering about Joey. Florence's brother. I wondered a bit about Dolly.
But not once did I feel much more than a numb annoyance for all three of the main actors.
I wonder if I'll feel the same about the movie adaptation? Though in fairness the book has rather turned me off from finding it somewhere.
So far I'm failing terribly at my 12 in 12 challenge, despite still meeting my reading quota to meet my annual goal of 52 books.
I just always find more interesting stuff to read, I guess.
This is supposedly a tragic English love triangle story.
But surely, I find myself kept musing, surely you're supposed to love at least one side of that triangle somewhere if not early on, then at least halfway down the book?
That, never happened.
I mean even by the end I was feeling numb for the three main characters.
I found myself constantly wondering about Joey. Florence's brother. I wondered a bit about Dolly.
But not once did I feel much more than a numb annoyance for all three of the main actors.
I wonder if I'll feel the same about the movie adaptation? Though in fairness the book has rather turned me off from finding it somewhere.
wishesandpages's review against another edition
3.0
The movie is going to wreck me. WHY.
Anyhow, it was so interesting to learn about artists in that era and to be able to see a little of their closed world. I really liked Gilbert but that's no surprise for he is portrayed by Dan Stevens in the movie. However, I really can't stand Alfred Munnings. I know this is fiction, so please someone tells me I shouldn't dislike him that much. Because in the book, I can't.
Moreover, I thought it was clumsy to have the book start in 1949, with only two chapters at that time, and the rest in the 1910s. Of course the whole story was set around that time BUT it would have given me more closure to end the book on a chapter set in 1949. It feels a bit unfinished to me.
It was a decent historical novel but not the best. It's inspired by real events and while I knew how it would end because of it, I still cried. I'm quite excited to see the movie *whispers* because of Dan Stevens.
Anyhow, it was so interesting to learn about artists in that era and to be able to see a little of their closed world. I really liked Gilbert but that's no surprise for he is portrayed by Dan Stevens in the movie. However, I really can't stand Alfred Munnings. I know this is fiction, so please someone tells me I shouldn't dislike him that much. Because in the book, I can't.
Moreover, I thought it was clumsy to have the book start in 1949, with only two chapters at that time, and the rest in the 1910s. Of course the whole story was set around that time BUT it would have given me more closure to end the book on a chapter set in 1949. It feels a bit unfinished to me.
It was a decent historical novel but not the best. It's inspired by real events and while I knew how it would end because of it, I still cried. I'm quite excited to see the movie *whispers* because of Dan Stevens.
guardian's review against another edition
3.0
Having read a little bit about the subject matter of this book, I was expecting more. This book came off as a standard romance set amongst bohemians with typical love triangles and jealousies. I just couldn't get into the characters or story as it was written in a fairly pedantic manner.
I'm usually a fan of books over movies, but this is one story where a movie may be better at heightening the tension and the scenery would become a character. I know a movie has been made, but it has not been released in my area.
I'm usually a fan of books over movies, but this is one story where a movie may be better at heightening the tension and the scenery would become a character. I know a movie has been made, but it has not been released in my area.
rhiannonxgrace's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
What an magical book. I'm so pleased that I stumbled across a copy after watching the movie back in september. Smith's novel is beautifully written, the characters alive on the page. In one respect, though, this vibrancy was not always appreciated, as I found AJ Munnings to have been quite the unpleasant man; there were several moment where I wished I could have punched him. Gilbert was quite easily my favourite character (and not just because Dan Stevens played him in the movie).
kah's review against another edition
2.0
This seemed evasive of all the main drama points. Prose ok, but I'm not sure the central character was the right one; he was too 'prosaic' imho for a story set among artists and had to miss some of the developing drama.