Reviews

Las luminarias by Eleanor Catton

jasmineting's review against another edition

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4.0

slow start, sooo many characters to follow w different plotlines happening at the same time. however, once everything started connecting it got GOOD & i honestly was hoping there would be more when the book ended. catton knows how to write a poetic end for sure. also the undercurrent of astrology was def there but you dont need to understand it (i didnt) but would be super interested to reread & chart everything out the 2nd time around 

i’m not usually a big historical fiction reader but this one ate fr

sian_hughes_jones's review against another edition

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slow-paced

2.25

Set in New Zealand gold towns there is a confusing story surrounding 13 people one just off the boat, there is a dress with gold seen into it and Chinese guys and opium addictions. Think I should have read this not listened to it

ekh2310's review against another edition

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

5.0

augie_'s review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This book felt too long and overcomplicates a not very complex plot point.
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paulamreid's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced

3.5

jackie9_82's review against another edition

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Ehh, I checked it out for 3 months and just didn't finish it, maybe another time

erinlcrane's review against another edition

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4.0

It took me SO LONG to read this book. 1 1/2 months. Very unusual for me, even for an 800 page book.

mckmillican's review against another edition

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5.0

This is the perfect fusion of two of my 2024 reading goals: to read fewer and better books, and to read books set in the places I travel. Reading Eleanor Catton’s brick of a novel while slowly traveling down the west coast of New Zealand (including a stop in Hokitika itself along the way) was the perfect way to kick off the year. I love that Catton is not afraid of genre, word count, or specificity. This is not a shapeless ambient contemporary musing - this is a Capital S Story told lengthily and brilliantly. She assumes she has smart readers who can hang with her through 700 pages and 40 characters and 50 dictionary references (her vocabulary is intimidating). When I finished The Luminaries, I set it down and thought: “Wow! I am SO glad I read that,” which is the energy I hope to maintain for the remainder of my 2024 reads.

laurynmailey's review against another edition

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

4.25

spersephone's review against another edition

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2.0

I made it to the end. But I don’t really understand what I read.