aristeegan's review against another edition
2.0
If I were rating this book purely on the author's beautiful writing style and use of language, then, certainly my rating would be more like 4 stars. But, I am left feeling like I read words but no story. Writing beautifully is a true gift but,for me, weaving those words into a compelling tale is what makes a great book.
k8iedid's review against another edition
3.0
I think I read this at the wrong time in my life. The writing is beautiful and the characters have depth, but (and?) everyone seemed so sad and lost (could have also been the audiobook effect).
np24's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn’t like this book as much as I thought I would. Maybe I didn’t read the description well enough, but I didn’t realize it was a story that focuses on a collection of different people, which usually aren’t my favorite anyway. I felt like I never learned enough about any one character to actually care about their story or development. This was more like a snapshot of the thoughts and musings of a few people at a specific moment in time, not so much a book full of plot or dialogue.
snowmaiden's review against another edition
4.0
A slight, but thoroughly enjoyable, novel about the occupants of a small area of Chelsea. I have no idea why this book has gotten so many bad reviews here, although I suspect it was marketed to people who were never going to appreciate it. (If you find footnotes bothersome, this is not the book for you!) And yet the footnotes here aren't just a gimmick. They exist to tell us the thoughts that people can't begin to express in their daily lives. (In my opinion, a reader would be better off skipping the text than skipping the footnotes, since that's where some of Walbert's most poetic writing can be found.) You could read this in an afternoon if you wanted to, but I found it best to savor the writing and let it linger.
eclectictales's review against another edition
1.0
I won an ARC of this book via the GoodReads First Reads programme. This review in its entirety was originally posted at eclectictales.com: http://www.eclectictales.com/blog/2015/06/01/review-the-sunken-cathedral/
Unfortunately, I didn’t really feel for the story. The first few pages were disconcerting, but I thought it just took some getting used to, getting a feel of the storytelling and slipping into the lives of these characters. But about a third into the story, I wasn’t feeling for anything at all–the story, the characters, even the setting. Everything about this novel just felt so disconnected. The characters felt remote, between me and them, and even between each other.
There are a few moments of lovely prose here and there and fleeting moments that the characters experience. Unfortunately these touch-and-go moments aren’t really grounded in anything to keep the reader going (in this case, the characters, or even something sembling a plot). I was really expecting something more about this book based on the premise, something more introspective than the vagueness that I read. Maybe other readers will get more out of this novel, but it just didn’t work for me.
Unfortunately, I didn’t really feel for the story. The first few pages were disconcerting, but I thought it just took some getting used to, getting a feel of the storytelling and slipping into the lives of these characters. But about a third into the story, I wasn’t feeling for anything at all–the story, the characters, even the setting. Everything about this novel just felt so disconnected. The characters felt remote, between me and them, and even between each other.
There are a few moments of lovely prose here and there and fleeting moments that the characters experience. Unfortunately these touch-and-go moments aren’t really grounded in anything to keep the reader going (in this case, the characters, or even something sembling a plot). I was really expecting something more about this book based on the premise, something more introspective than the vagueness that I read. Maybe other readers will get more out of this novel, but it just didn’t work for me.
bethnellvaccaro's review against another edition
3.0
I am giving this three stars but it may only deserve 2 because I just couldn't bring myself to finish it. I just couldn't get into the upcoming floods that seemed bound to happen. I am concerned that I only have the brain power to read mysteries right now, but something was missing for me in this book.
sophronisba's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautifully written book, but maybe a touch too impressionistic to really work for me. (Or maybe I just identified with Elizabeth a bit too much.) It's a lovely book, but Walbert will probably never top Our Kind for me.
sookie13's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this. The author is very clearly talented and writes some beautiful prose- there are moments where a sentence really grabs at you, which to me is a huge indication of talent and promise, but this book just didn't do it for me. It could have been the editing, or the style of writing. This definitely may have worked better as a collection of short stories, because as a novel it feels barely stitched together. I think because parts of it were so thin, it's why I couldn't connect to any of the characters, or even care about what I was reading about. It was CONFUSING. I've read confusing books before and appreciated them, even liked them, but maybe as I get older I just don't have the patience for a book that isn't more direct with its reader. Kate Walbert is a lovely writer, but she needs to work more on plot construction and character development than her prose. Two stars for the beautiful language.
*I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway from the publisher.*
*I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway from the publisher.*