Reviews

Wise Children by Angela Carter

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libraryofcalliope's review against another edition

2.0

This story is very performatively written, which is appropriate given the subject matter. It feels more like reading a monologue than a story. The Chance twins are the illegitimate daughters of the king of British Theatre. Their lives and their legitimate siblings lives are two sides of the same performing coin but while one side has Shakespeare and high art, the other has novelty and sensationalism. The subtleties of the novel are incredibly interesting but I just couldn’t get into it. The way it was written felt too unnatural to me. It would be excellent performed. One of the Chance sisters narrates the stories of her sister and her family in an almost pantomime voice, all booming and wisecracking which is absolutely an appropriate choice, it just meant I struggled to get into it. It’s also more like exposition the whole way through rather than a story in the traditional sense. It was an interesting experiment in writing style, just not for me.

harrietthacker85's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny inspiring medium-paced

5.0

grazeland's review against another edition

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adventurous funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

alysian_fields's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective medium-paced

4.25

balibee146's review against another edition

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5.0

Glorious and glittering, with a thoughtful and serious underbelly. Carter has so much to say about women's' roles in the world and this touches on the double bind of being female and older too. For Shakespeare buffs and old school thesps also. Loved it.