misao_mcgregor's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
walla293's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
nesdy's review
4.5
Once in a while a book comes along that completely and unexpectedly blows you away. This was it for me. I love how it's not just a retelling of The Tempest, but it's actually in conversation both with it and with the rest of the Western literary canon. The way abuse is portrayed in this novel is spot on, and it deals with how a lot of the abuse that happens behind closed doors is upheld by the abuse happening at an institutional level. The only reason this doesn't get five stars is that I felt like the ending was a bit abrupt.
12grace4's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
miss_laura_smith's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Colonisation, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Emotional abuse
janp's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jessicaonbooks's review against another edition
If you’re a fan of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, this is worth checking out. I enjoyed the original take on a classic and I learned more about Trinidadian history in this book than I have….ever. This one reads like a fairytale, but therefore lacks something in prose style and character development. I think some more editing for length would have made this a bit more impactful.
bea_angelica's review against another edition
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
alyssaarch's review against another edition
2.0
This title got my attention right away because of its link with Shakespeare. It's supposed to be a modern retelling of The Tempest, and I was interested in seeing what Nunez would do with that story. Unfortunately, I don't think it's a successful retelling.
Prospero's Daughter is about an orphan named Carlos who lives in the Caribbean. Peter, who has escaped England with his small daughter to avoid a scandal, steals Carlos's home and forces Carlos and another native woman to work as his servants. When the time comes for Peter to give his daughter, Virginia, lessons, Carlos feels sorry for the girl, since she isn't able to learn them fast enough for her father and is yelled at constantly. Carlos, whose parents taught him to read, secretly teaches Virginia how to read at night so that she can impress her father. Eventually, they end up falling in love, and when Carlos tells Peter of his intentions to marry Virginia, Peter accuses Carlos of rape and launches an investigation, in the hopes of getting Carlos arrested.
I think that the enjoyment you get out of this book really depends on what you're reading this book for. It's a great book about colonization, and what the natives go through when the English come in and take over their island. The story is well-written, and is generally enjoyable; however, if you're reading this as a modern retelling of The Tempest (as I was), or even for the "romance" you may be disappointed.
I'm all in favor of authors changing original plot points and characters to fit in with their retelling of the story. I don't think that happened enough in Prospero's Daughter, and when it did, I wasn't sure why the story changed. For example, I found it strange that Peter is portrayed as a mad scientist and Carlos describes him putting on a robe decorated with stars to do magic. I didn't get this. At first, I thought it was Carlos's imagination, but later, I wasn't sure. Though he's supposed to be a stand-in for Prospero, this didn't make sense to the story in general, and I think that Peter would have been a perfect Prospero without the "magic robe." Especially since The Tempest is directly mentioned in the story and Carlos blatantly calls Peter Prospero. One thing that changed that I didn't like was the fact that Carlos teaches Virginia to read, whereas in the play, Miranda teaches Caliban. I'm not sure what purpose this change was supposed to serve, especially when other things are so strictly adhered to, even when it doesn't make sense within the world that Nunez has created.
Though many people consider this a romance, I definitely do not. There is romance in this novel, but it's not really the main focus of the story. Actually, it's more of a plot device for the author to show the mistreatment and discrimination of the natives by the English. I also don't think that the resolution of what separates Virginia and Carlos is very well done. A romance between an English woman and a native from an island that the English have colonized will never be without its problems, and I think that Nunez overlooks the fact that there are some real challenges that people in the position of Virginia and Carlos would have faced.
As for listening to the audiobook version, I have no complaints. I think that Vance did an amazing job with all the voices and the characters. The switching of points of view and the dialogue were all extraordinarily easy to follow. I only wish that the story could have been better so that I could have enjoyed Vance's narration all the more.
Prospero's Daughter is about an orphan named Carlos who lives in the Caribbean. Peter, who has escaped England with his small daughter to avoid a scandal, steals Carlos's home and forces Carlos and another native woman to work as his servants. When the time comes for Peter to give his daughter, Virginia, lessons, Carlos feels sorry for the girl, since she isn't able to learn them fast enough for her father and is yelled at constantly. Carlos, whose parents taught him to read, secretly teaches Virginia how to read at night so that she can impress her father. Eventually, they end up falling in love, and when Carlos tells Peter of his intentions to marry Virginia, Peter accuses Carlos of rape and launches an investigation, in the hopes of getting Carlos arrested.
I think that the enjoyment you get out of this book really depends on what you're reading this book for. It's a great book about colonization, and what the natives go through when the English come in and take over their island. The story is well-written, and is generally enjoyable; however, if you're reading this as a modern retelling of The Tempest (as I was), or even for the "romance" you may be disappointed.
I'm all in favor of authors changing original plot points and characters to fit in with their retelling of the story. I don't think that happened enough in Prospero's Daughter, and when it did, I wasn't sure why the story changed. For example, I found it strange that Peter is portrayed as a mad scientist and Carlos describes him putting on a robe decorated with stars to do magic. I didn't get this. At first, I thought it was Carlos's imagination, but later, I wasn't sure. Though he's supposed to be a stand-in for Prospero, this didn't make sense to the story in general, and I think that Peter would have been a perfect Prospero without the "magic robe." Especially since The Tempest is directly mentioned in the story and Carlos blatantly calls Peter Prospero. One thing that changed that I didn't like was the fact that Carlos teaches Virginia to read, whereas in the play, Miranda teaches Caliban. I'm not sure what purpose this change was supposed to serve, especially when other things are so strictly adhered to, even when it doesn't make sense within the world that Nunez has created.
Though many people consider this a romance, I definitely do not. There is romance in this novel, but it's not really the main focus of the story. Actually, it's more of a plot device for the author to show the mistreatment and discrimination of the natives by the English. I also don't think that the resolution of what separates Virginia and Carlos is very well done. A romance between an English woman and a native from an island that the English have colonized will never be without its problems, and I think that Nunez overlooks the fact that there are some real challenges that people in the position of Virginia and Carlos would have faced.
As for listening to the audiobook version, I have no complaints. I think that Vance did an amazing job with all the voices and the characters. The switching of points of view and the dialogue were all extraordinarily easy to follow. I only wish that the story could have been better so that I could have enjoyed Vance's narration all the more.
mochagirl's review against another edition
5.0
n Elizabeth Nunez's Prospero's Daughter, the exploits of its key characters (Dr. Peter Gardner, Carlos, Virginia, and Ariana) are intrinsically linked to key characters (Prospero, Caliban, Miranda, and Ariel respectively) and themes inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest. Both works occur on an island, both explore the principles of freedom, forgiveness and rebirth but Nunez modernizes the classic tale by adding contemporary flavors of racism, classism, colorism and domination - legacies of European colonial rule.
Staged in the 1960's, Prospero's Daughter opens with an investigation of an attempted rape of Virginia Gardner, reported by her father, Dr. Peter Gardner. As the investigation progresses, the police uncover a repulsive secret that exposes the truth behind the alleged rape and ironically parallels the historical sins of the colonizers and social unrest of the day (Trinidad's quest for independence from British rule). Nunez also folds in the rich history of Trinidad and its inhabitants when retracing the deteriorating relationship between the colonizers and the colonized. She cleverly divides the book into three sections to allow the reader to gain altering views and perspectives from Peter, Carlos, and Virginia on the series of events lea! ding up to the alleged rape.
Paralleling the play, Peter's arrival on Carlo's island home in the aftermath of a deadly storm is symbolic that a dark and destructive force has arrived. Peter steals the house by outwardly lying and squatting on the property Carlos inherited from his parents. He spews insults upon Carlos's deceased parents memory (an unmarried interracial couple), administers punishments as self-imposed `master' of the manor and batters young Carlos and Ariana's self-esteem, innocence and dignity by subtly administering psychological, physical and verbal attacks reinforcing negative stereotypes surrounding their mental inferiority, lower socia! l class and their "natural/savage" behavior. Dr. Gardner relents a bit when he decides to experiment on using his rationale - to "civilize" - Carlos (it is his duty as an Englishman to attempt to do so), but his warped thinking only exacerbates Carlo's fury over the years. Dr. Gardner's self-imposed exile on the island also fails miserably and leads to unforgivable lasciviousness and an unexpected, clandestined love affair.
This novel is filled with so many pedagogical and cultural facets that this reviewer can not do the book justice. Although it started a bit slow, the writing was such that I was pulled in deeper - constantly highlighting passages and scribbling in the margins along the way. It caused me to pause and give thought to many of the themes and the masterful handling of parallels to the original work, to modern day events and historical and current social attitudes. I was thoroughly entertained, educated, angered and appalled. This was my first time reading Ms. Nunez and I will definitely read her other works. I highly recommend it to those who can appreciate "literary" pieces steeped in history and culture. It is well done and well written!
Staged in the 1960's, Prospero's Daughter opens with an investigation of an attempted rape of Virginia Gardner, reported by her father, Dr. Peter Gardner. As the investigation progresses, the police uncover a repulsive secret that exposes the truth behind the alleged rape and ironically parallels the historical sins of the colonizers and social unrest of the day (Trinidad's quest for independence from British rule). Nunez also folds in the rich history of Trinidad and its inhabitants when retracing the deteriorating relationship between the colonizers and the colonized. She cleverly divides the book into three sections to allow the reader to gain altering views and perspectives from Peter, Carlos, and Virginia on the series of events lea! ding up to the alleged rape.
Paralleling the play, Peter's arrival on Carlo's island home in the aftermath of a deadly storm is symbolic that a dark and destructive force has arrived. Peter steals the house by outwardly lying and squatting on the property Carlos inherited from his parents. He spews insults upon Carlos's deceased parents memory (an unmarried interracial couple), administers punishments as self-imposed `master' of the manor and batters young Carlos and Ariana's self-esteem, innocence and dignity by subtly administering psychological, physical and verbal attacks reinforcing negative stereotypes surrounding their mental inferiority, lower socia! l class and their "natural/savage" behavior. Dr. Gardner relents a bit when he decides to experiment on using his rationale - to "civilize" - Carlos (it is his duty as an Englishman to attempt to do so), but his warped thinking only exacerbates Carlo's fury over the years. Dr. Gardner's self-imposed exile on the island also fails miserably and leads to unforgivable lasciviousness and an unexpected, clandestined love affair.
This novel is filled with so many pedagogical and cultural facets that this reviewer can not do the book justice. Although it started a bit slow, the writing was such that I was pulled in deeper - constantly highlighting passages and scribbling in the margins along the way. It caused me to pause and give thought to many of the themes and the masterful handling of parallels to the original work, to modern day events and historical and current social attitudes. I was thoroughly entertained, educated, angered and appalled. This was my first time reading Ms. Nunez and I will definitely read her other works. I highly recommend it to those who can appreciate "literary" pieces steeped in history and culture. It is well done and well written!