tacochelle's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
3 girls and a teacher from an Australian private academy disappear after climbing up to the titular Hanging Rock during their school picnic. No bodies are ever found, and the event haunts everyone remotely connected to it, some more tragically than others. There's a hint of something supernatural about the whole thing, but it's never confirmed. While the truth of the mystery was published decades later, I don't thinks it's needed. It'd less about the mystery and more about how their absence affects their world. A little slow, but really interesting, and weird enough to be right up my alley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape, Vomit, and Blood
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
4.0
This may be the first time I've liked both a novel and the film adaptation. I love Peter Weirs movie, and was hesitant to read the book because, well, what are the odds. It was wonderful: atmospheric and dreamy, eerie and quite funny. A perfect short read for a drowsy afternoon in the current heatwave where everything seems a little off kilter.
unawake0442's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I didn't hate this book. I thought I would after the first 50 or so pages, but it did pick up, especially toward the end. I just don't think I need that many descriptions of the Australian bush. I also think the writer truly detests most of her characters. She cannot stop calling Edith an idiot or body-shaming her. Actually, multiple characters are told they're stupid, cold, or otherwise not good enough.
The narrator specifically is so interesting (not necessarily in a good way) because I kept thinking, "Who is this?" They make judgments on the characters as if they were there, but they are also omniscient, but also keep breaking the fourth wall. There are mentions of how something isn't worth explaining now or actually this will illustrate the point. I just about lost it when the narrator said, "So the last paragraph was a metaphor for this."
I do think part of the problem is knowing the truth behind the story (no spoilers here, the foreword also goes into this, though I knew beforehand). Maybe if I hadn't I would have enjoyed it more? I guess we'll never know.
Final note, if I drank every time the book makes fun of Edith, I'd be dead.
The narrator specifically is so interesting (not necessarily in a good way) because I kept thinking, "Who is this?" They make judgments on the characters as if they were there, but they are also omniscient, but also keep breaking the fourth wall. There are mentions of how something isn't worth explaining now or actually this will illustrate the point. I just about lost it when the narrator said, "So the last paragraph was a metaphor for this."
I do think part of the problem is knowing the truth behind the story (no spoilers here, the foreword also goes into this, though I knew beforehand). Maybe if I hadn't I would have enjoyed it more? I guess we'll never know.
Final note, if I drank every time the book makes fun of Edith, I'd be dead.
lullavi's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
elsbe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
wendydt's review against another edition
4.0
Got out my 35 year old copy and had a reread. Forgot how good it was. The writing style really suits the story with the author popping in little comments about the future or saying more about that later, as if you are with her as she tells the story. I had forgotten how sad some parts are.
so_darling's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
anthvl82's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0