fantasmariana's review against another edition
2.0
Definitivamente no fue para mi, en varias ocasiones estuve a punto de abandonarlo. Creo que en los libros se pueden sugerir ciertas tramas sin necesidad de darle al lector una explicación completa de lo que está pasando, y creo que este libro intenta hacer eso, pero se acaba sintiendo como que la autora dejó todo a medias o sin ejecutar. Además los personajes son como manic pixie dream girls y me cayeron pésimo. No es de terror, diría que es medio misterio con algo de ciencia ficción.
2turtlekatie's review against another edition
3.0
was expecting a haunted school, got a vaguely cultish one instead. kinda leaves you with a lot left to be learned, like what the fuck the new materials concentration kids actually do and what the plasma pins do to people. but the creepy chanting was a solid 10/10 for me
p.s. theo is a bittchhh
p.s. theo is a bittchhh
cyireadbooks's review against another edition
1.0
I lasted until the 65% point and just could not see myself going forward anymore. It is a slow and strange read with self-centered characters that scream entitlement. The only character that I liked ended up dead.
And the chanting...OMG what is with that? Cult culture?
Won't say anything more.
I received a physical copy of the book from the Goodreads Giveaways. The comments herein are completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
And the chanting...OMG what is with that? Cult culture?
Won't say anything more.
I received a physical copy of the book from the Goodreads Giveaways. The comments herein are completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
bookapotamus's review against another edition
This book started off as my dream read! Shady private school, mysterious back stories, bratty teenagers and strange things happening all around. I was so intrigued by the Catherine House and it's back story and what was happening in secret behind it's closed doors.
So the premise hooked me. I devoured the first half. By 3/4 in I was starting to get really restless and confused. It just didn't feel like it was going anywhere... or maybe just not in the direction I had hoped.
By the end - I felt like I had wasted my time. I was so disappointed in where the story went when it had such a strong start! There was a big element of the school that I was so fascinated and curious about... without giving away spoilers - I'll just say that no questions were answered and the main character even admits she doesn't understand it either!
There was zero to none as far as character development or where anyone came from (or went!) so it was hard to connect to anyone or anything. I was hoping for so much more!
Great start - promising direction. No follow through. Bummed. I had really high hopes.
So the premise hooked me. I devoured the first half. By 3/4 in I was starting to get really restless and confused. It just didn't feel like it was going anywhere... or maybe just not in the direction I had hoped.
By the end - I felt like I had wasted my time. I was so disappointed in where the story went when it had such a strong start! There was a big element of the school that I was so fascinated and curious about... without giving away spoilers - I'll just say that no questions were answered and the main character even admits she doesn't understand it either!
There was zero to none as far as character development or where anyone came from (or went!) so it was hard to connect to anyone or anything. I was hoping for so much more!
Great start - promising direction. No follow through. Bummed. I had really high hopes.
iammaya's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bland bland bland. stories don’t have to say the most profound things. but they do have to say something. this said nothing
natasha14's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
doomluz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Atmospheric.
jolietjane's review against another edition
4.0
What a whirlwind! Thank you to Harper Collins and Goodreads for sending me an ARC!
A few chapters into Catherine House, I was pretty convinced I was going to hate it. You get thrown right into the mix of the wispy, dreamy POV of Ines- a girl with a mysterious past who is accepted into an equally mysterious university. The University graduates go on to become world leaders and wealthy socialites. They would tell you Catherine House is a blessing. The media on the other hand, prints headlines about it being a dangerous cult, rife with abuse and mystery.
Ines, much like many who attend Catherine House, has very little home to go back to, thus begins to abide by Catherine House's strict rules. Abandon your old life. Music, photos, and calls to home are not allowed. Leaving is not allowed in your 3 year tenure. Strangest of all, not-so-secret studies of a mysterious substance known as Plasm are conducted both from, and on the students....but Catherine House is seductive, and easy to get swept up in.
It's hard to fully classify this book in a genre, but I would almost say it's a gothic mystery with Frankenstein style scifi elements- thats to say, the "scifi" aspect is a teeny tiny backdrop/plot thread connecting what is ultimately an overarching story of human seduction and isolation.
I also wanted to point out that boarding school/gothic novels are very often very "white". This book is written by an author of color, and almost all of the characters of meaning are black or other people of color, so that was something incredibly refreshing.
Though I struggle at first, I ultimately found myself being swept up in this debut much like the apprehensive teens that attend Catherine House, and I couldn't put it down. Everything about this story is toned town and muted, from the characters to the writing style and mystery, so don't expect any dramatic plot shifts. You will be moving along at a slow, grim pace as you watch Ines's time at the house evolve.
The problem with every "The Secret History" boarding school style drama is that they are always written in a vague and dreamy way that emulates Donna Tartt's style as much as possible. This can really remove you from the emotional impact of the story and the character's actions more often than not. I do feel that that problem does exist in Catherine House, but the book itself manages to stand on it's own as an addictive piece of literature that I couldn't put down.
A few chapters into Catherine House, I was pretty convinced I was going to hate it. You get thrown right into the mix of the wispy, dreamy POV of Ines- a girl with a mysterious past who is accepted into an equally mysterious university. The University graduates go on to become world leaders and wealthy socialites. They would tell you Catherine House is a blessing. The media on the other hand, prints headlines about it being a dangerous cult, rife with abuse and mystery.
Ines, much like many who attend Catherine House, has very little home to go back to, thus begins to abide by Catherine House's strict rules. Abandon your old life. Music, photos, and calls to home are not allowed. Leaving is not allowed in your 3 year tenure. Strangest of all, not-so-secret studies of a mysterious substance known as Plasm are conducted both from, and on the students....but Catherine House is seductive, and easy to get swept up in.
It's hard to fully classify this book in a genre, but I would almost say it's a gothic mystery with Frankenstein style scifi elements- thats to say, the "scifi" aspect is a teeny tiny backdrop/plot thread connecting what is ultimately an overarching story of human seduction and isolation.
I also wanted to point out that boarding school/gothic novels are very often very "white". This book is written by an author of color, and almost all of the characters of meaning are black or other people of color, so that was something incredibly refreshing.
Though I struggle at first, I ultimately found myself being swept up in this debut much like the apprehensive teens that attend Catherine House, and I couldn't put it down. Everything about this story is toned town and muted, from the characters to the writing style and mystery, so don't expect any dramatic plot shifts. You will be moving along at a slow, grim pace as you watch Ines's time at the house evolve.
The problem with every "The Secret History" boarding school style drama is that they are always written in a vague and dreamy way that emulates Donna Tartt's style as much as possible. This can really remove you from the emotional impact of the story and the character's actions more often than not. I do feel that that problem does exist in Catherine House, but the book itself manages to stand on it's own as an addictive piece of literature that I couldn't put down.