Reviews

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

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wolf_momma's review against another edition

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Started the wrong book 🤦 wanted to read a different book with the same name

dinadenso's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

fdap's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I was a little disappointed in this, I think it could have been shorter, and there’s a lot of just straight exposition instead of dialogue. The mystery and premise were good and the characters were pretty solid.

Content Warnings

maddiiie's review

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mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

macyashby's review against another edition

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1.0

Wow. This was bad on so many levels. No real plot. Attempts at gothic fiction, while never supplying any of the qualities of the category. Dr. Faraday is perhaps the most unsympathetic character I have ever read. The novel hints at a discussion of class, but only ends up with a character who is disdainful of his own class, that of his "betters," and of those who are less financially well off. There are ghosts? But not really. There is romance? But not really. Ultimately, any other gothic fiction or ghost story or post-war novel will be much more worth your time.

This might be spoilers?? But hopefully it just saves you the time.

Faraday grows up fantasizing about a fancy house. Eventually becomes a doctor and inserts himself in the family. Ostensibly falls in love, with not a single piece of evidence of authentic feeling on his part. Proceeds to make unilateral decisions for the entire family, based only on his own vague intentions. Other men are clearly competition. Women are clearly hysterical, illogical creatures who just need to be set straight by a man. I kept expecting that there would be some sort of moment of growth for even one of the characters. But alas. Faraday is consistently classist (in both directions), money-grubbing, chauvinist, and just all around self important.