Reviews

Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

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600kwyrm's review against another edition

4.0

#ReadHarder2024

-Read a book recommended by a librarian-

Today (2024, August 21) I finished the novel Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay. It was recommended to me by a librarian at my local library. It starts off as a simple school picnic, but tragedy strikes and is dubbed the “College Mystery.”

The story starts off with Mrs. Appleyard’s College for Young Ladies going to a picnic at Hanging Rock on Valentine’s Day. What was supposed to be a nice trip for the girls turned into a tragedy of great magnitude when three of the girls, who were generally of high-society went missing. Lots of rumors were spreading around after the disappearance of Miranda, Marion Quade, and Irma Leopold.

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Something that I very much loved about this story is the college itself. It’s said to originally have been a castle and information on the original owner is lost to time. It just all around spooky at night and my favorite moment was when Sara was described as, “flitted restlessly from room to room like a little ghost.”

I’d recommend this book to people who love gothic literature with dashes of dark academia- the college literary use to be an ominous castle! In spite of my enjoyment for the book, there were moments I had trouble following along and had to reread paragraphs, or there moments that felt like they were dragging. I still feel inclined to read this again at some point. I’m happy this is the novel my librarian recommended me. I’d give this story a 4/5 stars.

jvmpbvndles's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

erboe501's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

5.0

This book was just the mild gothic school girl horror I needed. Lindsay is a master of character development; everyone in the novel comes alive, even if some of them are not flatteringly portrayed. I found myself sympathizing with Mrs. Appleyard and her stalwart competency, although that is very much complicated by the end of the novel. The main mystery of the novel remains unexplained, and I love a book that is atmospheric and maybe supernatural and focuses on female relationships. A main theme is how time does (or does not pass). Indigenous presence is erased from the Australia of this Victorian setting, which is regrettable.

haydobbs's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

3.75

indium's review against another edition

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2.0

I can see how this piece has shaped other Australian novels and the imagery of the scenery was quite idyllic, however for me the plot was slow and a little dry. The was quite some tension built, but by the end I felt little motivation to continue reading.