greenblack's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
elliejmatthews's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
mackayandrew's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I came across April in Spain in the "Staff Picks" section at a tiny local library. I feel like I'm not worthy to write a review of this book. And I can't believe it's currently sporting a <4 star rating. Banville's writing is freaking brilliant. There are — whatever the word for Easter Egg surprises in novels is — on almost every page. And the story is magical too.
ungildedlily's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
5.0
Pathologist Quirke has been persuaded to travel to San Sebastian in Northern Spain by his wife. After an accident requires a visit to the local hospital, Quirke is surprised to see a fellow Irish doctor. However this is unusual as April Latimer was supposedly dead, killed at the hands of her brother before his suicide. Why is April hiding out in Spain and to what lengths will her family go to silence her?
My first encounter with Quirke and Strafford was through Snow, the last novel, which I loved and this is no different. In complete contrast to the cold setting of that novel, here the protagonists converge in Franco-era Basque Country. What is so good is the languid unfolding of the plot, Strafford doesn't appear until half-way but all the characters are set in place. The final ending is both swift and well-written. This is a wonderfully literary example of the genre.
My first encounter with Quirke and Strafford was through Snow, the last novel, which I loved and this is no different. In complete contrast to the cold setting of that novel, here the protagonists converge in Franco-era Basque Country. What is so good is the languid unfolding of the plot, Strafford doesn't appear until half-way but all the characters are set in place. The final ending is both swift and well-written. This is a wonderfully literary example of the genre.
deeclancy's review against another edition
5.0
This is another of the Quirke novels, which I read it back-to-back with a St. John Strafford book (the first of that series). Interestingly, Strafford also makes an appearance in this book, so the cast of characters in each series interact. For those unfamiliar with Banville's crime fiction, Quirke is the Irish State Pathologist, and Strafford is a senior detective. Both series are set in or around the 1950s, when many of Ireland's dirty secrets were swept under the carpet. I've skipped a few Quirke novels (inadvertently), and initially thought I wouldn't enjoy this book as much as the Strafford one, which is a series I'll definitely follow assiduously. However, it is equally superb and gripping.
One aspect of Banville that I very much like is that there is as much, perhaps more, time spent giving us a sense of the characters and their narratives as there is on the plot. One bugbear of mine with crime fiction or psychological thrillers is that there are some writers whose characters are only there to serve the plot. I generally don't read these writers more than once. When they take dramatic action, we're surprised and puzzled at the sudden change. However, with the marvellously drawn character of Terry Tike, for example, in this book, we know what drives him to take the actions that he does because we have an idea of his rather bleak interior life.
As with the novel Snow, which I finished recently, the landscape of 1950s Ireland is vividly and convincingly drawn, with an emphasis, of course, on the darker side of the institutions at that time. It was a time when many Catholics knew somebody was a Protestant on sight (and probably vice versa), and regarded them as almost a separate, exotic species; when the nationalist narrative of the new Ireland was still the dominant one and civil war hostilities were still bubbling beneath the surface. All of this is brilliantly portrayed (again).
For somebody who has publicly stated that he sees crime fiction as an inferior genre (as I've read) to the literary fiction for which he is also famous, Banville has managed to become a master of it, despite himself. This is a highly satisfying read; I am looking forward to the next installment in each series.
One aspect of Banville that I very much like is that there is as much, perhaps more, time spent giving us a sense of the characters and their narratives as there is on the plot. One bugbear of mine with crime fiction or psychological thrillers is that there are some writers whose characters are only there to serve the plot. I generally don't read these writers more than once. When they take dramatic action, we're surprised and puzzled at the sudden change. However, with the marvellously drawn character of Terry Tike, for example, in this book, we know what drives him to take the actions that he does because we have an idea of his rather bleak interior life.
As with the novel Snow, which I finished recently, the landscape of 1950s Ireland is vividly and convincingly drawn, with an emphasis, of course, on the darker side of the institutions at that time. It was a time when many Catholics knew somebody was a Protestant on sight (and probably vice versa), and regarded them as almost a separate, exotic species; when the nationalist narrative of the new Ireland was still the dominant one and civil war hostilities were still bubbling beneath the surface. All of this is brilliantly portrayed (again).
For somebody who has publicly stated that he sees crime fiction as an inferior genre (as I've read) to the literary fiction for which he is also famous, Banville has managed to become a master of it, despite himself. This is a highly satisfying read; I am looking forward to the next installment in each series.
slhandy45's review against another edition
3.0
In an interesting twist, I was reading this book the day I visited San Sebastian. But, after my second Quirke novel, I can't say I'm totally sold. The mix of old and new... doesn't always sit right.
ferdiaocairbre's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
caroparr's review against another edition
4.0
Quirke is vacationing in Spain with his most wonderful wife, a psychiatrist, when he thinks he sees April Latimer, who is supposed to have died (see [b:Elegy for April|7431670|Elegy for April (Quirke, #3)|Benjamin Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442877029l/7431670._SX50_.jpg|9413967]). His daughter Phoebe, a good friend of April's, gets involved, as does Strafford, whom we first met in [b:Snow|50353739|Snow (St. John Strafford, #1)|John Banville|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1584824767l/50353739._SY75_.jpg|75355208]. A compelling read with an absolutely heartbreaking ending.