alicihonest's review
3.0
Wanted a book about a magician, got a book about spousal abuse. Now feel pretty depressed, but I suppose that means it was well executed.
katlo's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aliciaclarereads's review
2.0
This book infuriated me. Martyn has to one of the worst, most despicable characters I have ever read. And I just finished Wuthering Heights. (Which I loved, but let's be honest the majority of the characters are terrible people). I somewhat liked the ending, but the book in general just made me angry. I think it would have been better if the author hadn't tried so hard. It seemed that she was desperately trying to have achingly, beautiful prose that was deep and thought provoking. But instead it was fragmented and whiny sounding. I read this for my Irish Book Club at school, and I highly recommend never picking up with book. Unless you want to make a bad mood worse.
This is kind of spoilery, but you shouldn't want to read this book anyway.
This is kind of spoilery, but you shouldn't want to read this book anyway.
Spoiler
It took Stella 220 pages to tell Martyn to go fuck himself. She should've said it the moment he took her book on the train whilst she was reading. Because that's what I would've done. Not fall in love with a manipulative douchebag who would never answer any question she asked.muninnherself's review
4.0
I saw a whole shelf of Jennifer Johnston in the library and remembered I read one once that was pretty good. This is also pretty good. It's kind of old-fashioned, but only in the way that this is what lit fic was like when I was younger. It's very well written and structured and reminds you that marrying someone who won't tell you anything about themselves is often a mistake. The relationship between Stella and her daughter is very painful to read about and one can't help but be pleased that Stella's ex-husband (Robin's father) was exploded by the IRA. It can only be said to serve him right.
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