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lauz_w's review against another edition
4.0
Graeme Macrae Burnet mixes the reality with fiction in a similar way to This Bloody Project but in 60s London.. I had to check myself a few times it wasn't non fiction. It is like a magician's slight of hand but with words throughout. Split between the "diaries" of a young woman working through the loss of her sister, and a biography, the intersecting chapters work to build a picture of both the characters and the idea of mental illness deftly. You can absolutely see why it received a Booker nomination, but I'm not convinced it is the one that should win.
ripplerip's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
moth_gf184's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eje15's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
donnawr1's review against another edition
3.0
The writing was good, the audiobook version well read, the characters were well portrayed, but unfortunately I didn't like either of the main protagonists, so it wasn't really an enjoyable read. The author clearly did a lot of research into the anti-psychiatry movement in the 60s in Britain, even though the main character was fictional. It does point out the frailty of who is "normal" and who is not, and suicide is a main topic within the book. If you're really into psychiatry novels, you will probably like this one. I just had such a hard time with Braithwaite, and Rebecca Smyth was almost as bad.
elinorb's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very interesting and atmospheric read. I really enjoyed the narrative structure of a diary within a book within a book. Flew through it. Ultimately felt like it was missing something though; maybe a bit underdeveloped and rushed towards the end.