hayley20's review
emotional
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
1.0
I was very confused and never entirely hooked into reading this one. Had such high hopes after having it on my shelf for a while and it just hasn't been as good as other books I've been reading recently
leannaaker's review
3.0
Such a promising concept for a historical fiction/sci fi novel (and yes, I do classify this as sci fi with the unexplained physical ailments). There was just something missing about this. Not sure if it was too formulaic or cliche or something...or maybe character development.
momochii's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
booksoup's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I really don’t know what to think about this book; there are some ideas I liked, but overall I’m not quite sure what to make of it. It seemed to lack some depth, and the actual “illness” part of it ended up kind of vague and unexplained. I still don’t know exactly what happened.
mandi_lea's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Death, Grief, Sexism, Suicide, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Child abuse, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Self harm
rachaelwho's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The ending was like a Midwestern goodbye, I kept thinking it was over and then another hour passed... Major pacing weirdness and just... Didn't stick any landings. Too much and not enough going on. Not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Child abuse
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
4.0
Philosopher Samuel has already suffered much, the failure of a commune project and the death of his wife plus a fiction written by his brother that casts him in a bad light. When a strange flock of red birds arrives on his property Samuel decides it is time for something new and he sets up a school designed to educate young ladies to think. In the 1870s in New England this is thought of as very progressive and even his daughter Caroline is cynical. As the students begin to fall ill with strange symptoms an old physician friend is brought in but his treatment method shocks Caroline to the core.
This is a very thought-provoking book which is shocking yet very quietly written. The back-story of the failure of the commune is hinted at darkly and the details that inspired the novel about Samuel's marriage are also shrouded yet they provide a sense of history repeating itself as the tragedy unfolds. I found this story sucked me in and the birds act as an extended metaphor throughout with their unusual behaviour, magpie tendencies and 'nesting'. This is a powerful story about women and the control of their own lives.
This is a very thought-provoking book which is shocking yet very quietly written. The back-story of the failure of the commune is hinted at darkly and the details that inspired the novel about Samuel's marriage are also shrouded yet they provide a sense of history repeating itself as the tragedy unfolds. I found this story sucked me in and the birds act as an extended metaphor throughout with their unusual behaviour, magpie tendencies and 'nesting'. This is a powerful story about women and the control of their own lives.
612daphneh_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The first thing that strikes me about this book is the struggle. I felt that even though the real action of the plot was not big or great, the emotions were so tumultuous. I became frustrated sometimes seeing how much Caroline was trapped. I always went back to think what I would have done in that situation, and how that Caroline's environment still stifles the amount of "daring" she allows herself to do.
I deeply, deeply hate Hawkins. He was basically sexually assaulting all these women patients in the name of "science". It pains me to see how many female conditions, female pain, female confusion gets undermined because they are considered the lesser gender. I agree with Eliza in saying that Samuel is perhaps worse than Hawkins. Samuel did educate Caroline in a way that she would not have elsewhere, but he also castrated her brilliance, with his disappointment and control. I am really glad where she ended up at the end of the story. While I dislike Sophia for her bimbleness, I also like her honesty. She was the first to speak out, the only to speak out, when things felt bad. Because of her ignorance, she was not restricted by expectations from Samuel. In the beginning of the story, I wished for David and Caroline to get together, but gosh, I dislike his cheating greatly, and he is not enough for her. Her story parallels Anna and Miles'.
Overall, I liked this book. I thought the trilling hearts would be the cause of all their maladies, but really, they are more of a symbol. They are meant to send a message about how females are so gaslit all the time, how history repeats itself, freedom, beauty, and omens. I fear for our own world right now, how America is becoming more and more misogynistic. I wish my voice were enough to change something, but with all these new reproductive rules... who knows what will happen?
I deeply, deeply hate Hawkins. He was basically sexually assaulting all these women patients in the name of "science". It pains me to see how many female conditions, female pain, female confusion gets undermined because they are considered the lesser gender. I agree with Eliza in saying that Samuel is perhaps worse than Hawkins. Samuel did educate Caroline in a way that she would not have elsewhere, but he also castrated her brilliance, with his disappointment and control. I am really glad where she ended up at the end of the story. While I dislike Sophia for her bimbleness, I also like her honesty. She was the first to speak out, the only to speak out, when things felt bad. Because of her ignorance, she was not restricted by expectations from Samuel. In the beginning of the story, I wished for David and Caroline to get together, but gosh, I dislike his cheating greatly, and he is not enough for her. Her story parallels Anna and Miles'.
Overall, I liked this book. I thought the trilling hearts would be the cause of all their maladies, but really, they are more of a symbol. They are meant to send a message about how females are so gaslit all the time, how history repeats itself, freedom, beauty, and omens. I fear for our own world right now, how America is becoming more and more misogynistic. I wish my voice were enough to change something, but with all these new reproductive rules... who knows what will happen?
catsandbones's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.25
corvidaemp's review against another edition
4.0
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. Reading the back summary I really wasn't sure I was going to like this book at all. However, once I was in the thick of it I greatly enjoyed it. The feeling was very victorian and simultaneously hard to place in a timeline which make it feel uncomfortable the whole way through. The characters were well written, the plot interesting and intelligent, and it was all around a good read.