chloearielle's review against another edition
I’m just not feeling it. The narrator isn’t my favorite, a lot of really choppy sentences which could just be the way it’s written. But I’m also not super into the plot, I find it a little bit creepy? And from reading other reviews I think my time would be better spent reading something I will like better.
shaesampson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Big love for this book, a new favourite. Loved the letter style of the chapters! Don’t rush the ending.
annegirl's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
eclectictales's review against another edition
4.0
This review in its entirety was originally posted at caffeinatedlife.net: http://www.caffeinatedlife.net/blog/2013/12/09/review-dear-mr-knightley/
Dear Mr. Knightley is told in an epistolary format, which is quite fitting as not only does the reader learn more about Samantha this way through her perspective but it touches also on a dying art that reflects Samantha’s interests and the sort of books she reads. The plot is pretty straight forward, following Samantha as she relays to they mysterious Mr. Knightley about her life and her experiences in the programme and the people in her life.
I thought Samantha was a very interesting character who clearly had a lot of issues to resolve at the start of the novel. I found myself very sympathetic to her plight, especially as some of the problems she had were issues that I can relate to on some level: failure, the desire to do her best, wanting to connect with other people but at the same time watching out for herself. It was interesting to see how Sam slowly overcomes her problems and her own personal feelings of failure and despair and become stronger, more courageous in facing the outside world and reaching out to those around her. I also appreciate how gradual these changes are and how everything contributes to her change.
While I appreciate Sam’s character development over the course of the novel, I did find myself wondering a little bit about other aspects of her character (for lack of a better explanation). Save for a few kind people, she had a horrible childhood–to the point of spending a few months out on the streets–and I’m surprised that, for the most part, she’s still relatively good-natured: she's not rude or nasty towards other people, she's not rough at the edges. She can be socially awkward and very distant but she’s strangely self-contained, which sometimes felt a little inconsistent.
The secondary characters and the development of Alex and Sam's relationship was also wonderful to read. Overall, I enjoyed reading Dear Mr. Knightley, I couldn’t quite put the novel down once I really got into the story because I wanted to know what was going to happen to Samantha and Alex next. While I more or less figured out the big reveal at the end, I thought the character journey was really interesting and how Samantha and Alex’s story progressed.
Dear Mr. Knightley is told in an epistolary format, which is quite fitting as not only does the reader learn more about Samantha this way through her perspective but it touches also on a dying art that reflects Samantha’s interests and the sort of books she reads. The plot is pretty straight forward, following Samantha as she relays to they mysterious Mr. Knightley about her life and her experiences in the programme and the people in her life.
I thought Samantha was a very interesting character who clearly had a lot of issues to resolve at the start of the novel. I found myself very sympathetic to her plight, especially as some of the problems she had were issues that I can relate to on some level: failure, the desire to do her best, wanting to connect with other people but at the same time watching out for herself. It was interesting to see how Sam slowly overcomes her problems and her own personal feelings of failure and despair and become stronger, more courageous in facing the outside world and reaching out to those around her. I also appreciate how gradual these changes are and how everything contributes to her change.
While I appreciate Sam’s character development over the course of the novel, I did find myself wondering a little bit about other aspects of her character (for lack of a better explanation). Save for a few kind people, she had a horrible childhood–to the point of spending a few months out on the streets–and I’m surprised that, for the most part, she’s still relatively good-natured: she's not rude or nasty towards other people, she's not rough at the edges. She can be socially awkward and very distant but she’s strangely self-contained, which sometimes felt a little inconsistent.
The secondary characters and the development of Alex and Sam's relationship was also wonderful to read. Overall, I enjoyed reading Dear Mr. Knightley, I couldn’t quite put the novel down once I really got into the story because I wanted to know what was going to happen to Samantha and Alex next. While I more or less figured out the big reveal at the end, I thought the character journey was really interesting and how Samantha and Alex’s story progressed.
lisazd's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
geolatin's review against another edition
3.0
This is an updated version of “Daddy Long-legs” by Jean Webster and follows the original story point for point. It’s about twice as long and much darker, but not unbearably so. I read both back to back, starting with Jean Webster’s version, which is a favorite I’ve read several times. I probably won’t read this again, but I didn’t hate it.
bonnieelise's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a total surprise. I thought it was going to be a light Austen-esque reimagining, and there were elements of that genre. But this one was much deeper and that surprised me. If you read it Id love to hear your thoughts on the twists.
honu_girl's review against another edition
3.0
The story of a young woman, who has not been dealt an easy life, told through her letters to her graduate school sponsor. Sam has always retreated behind books, putting on various literary characters as clothing against the world. The only time she is truly herself is when she runs.
Graduate school forces her to shed those safe characters and to begin to let others in. This process begins the route for her to accept herself for who she is. The "twist" is obvious from an early point, but no less difficult for Sam to face.
For those who love Austen, and want a bit of a chaste romance, this is a book for you.
Graduate school forces her to shed those safe characters and to begin to let others in. This process begins the route for her to accept herself for who she is. The "twist" is obvious from an early point, but no less difficult for Sam to face.
For those who love Austen, and want a bit of a chaste romance, this is a book for you.
marit06's review
3.0
Unexpectedly preachy
Not bad. A pretty easy read but a quick ending and I felt uncomfortably preached-to. So ultimately kind of disappointing.
Not bad. A pretty easy read but a quick ending and I felt uncomfortably preached-to. So ultimately kind of disappointing.