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lostinfrance's review against another edition
2.0
Lizzie Borden and all the stories that followed her through out history. I heard her story on a podcast and wanted to know more. This was the wrong book.
This book is historical fiction (not a problem) and tells the story from four different characters' points of view. Lizzie, her sister Emma, their house maid Bridget and some random guy who was staking out the house. It is the story of the day before---the day of and then a little bit of the time after.
This book was not enjoyable. The timeline jumped around, the motive/reasons unclear and it isn't clear what the author wanted you to think. Also--- the book was told with such an ominous and uncomfortable tone I couldn't find any empathy for anyone. I was also disappointed that there was not any information about what parts were true/fictional and what the author used to learn about the case.
Popsugar 2020: A book with a bird on the cover
Don't read. It doesn't really help to learn about the murder or about what happened. Just a lot of asides.
This book is historical fiction (not a problem) and tells the story from four different characters' points of view. Lizzie, her sister Emma, their house maid Bridget and some random guy who was staking out the house. It is the story of the day before---the day of and then a little bit of the time after.
This book was not enjoyable. The timeline jumped around, the motive/reasons unclear and it isn't clear what the author wanted you to think. Also--- the book was told with such an ominous and uncomfortable tone I couldn't find any empathy for anyone. I was also disappointed that there was not any information about what parts were true/fictional and what the author used to learn about the case.
Popsugar 2020: A book with a bird on the cover
Don't read. It doesn't really help to learn about the murder or about what happened. Just a lot of asides.
westonculture's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent fictionalised account of the Lizzie Borden murders. Schmidt places you right in the middle of the Borden family house - and it's all a bit visceral and a little claustrophobic. For me, the story lost it towards the end - but still wonderful storytelling and something I would widely recommend.
jaclyncrupi's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one. A gripping multi-voice imagining of the twisted chilling tale of Lizzie Borden. It's the very definition of unputdownable though it does slow down in the second half. I would have liked some courtroom sections rather than have that time summarised by Benjamin. It's a fascinating crime and Schmidt does a good job conveying the creepiness.
thekatiefu's review against another edition
1.0
This was a compelling story...in theory.
I can't think of one thing I actually liked about this book. It sounded like it would be very interesting, and I kept waiting for it to get there, but for me it never did.
Telling the story from the different viewpoints of each of the characters could have been fascinating...but instead, it was confusing, disjointed, and repetitive.
You felt like maybe you'd get some "answer" but there was no resolution.
The relationships between all of the characters felt so cold and impersonal--even between the sisters who supposedly were "so close."
I generally make it through an audiobook of this length in 3-4 days, but I struggled getting through this one because it just never kept my attention.
Such a disappointment.
I can't think of one thing I actually liked about this book. It sounded like it would be very interesting, and I kept waiting for it to get there, but for me it never did.
Telling the story from the different viewpoints of each of the characters could have been fascinating...but instead, it was confusing, disjointed, and repetitive.
You felt like maybe you'd get some "answer" but there was no resolution.
The relationships between all of the characters felt so cold and impersonal--even between the sisters who supposedly were "so close."
I generally make it through an audiobook of this length in 3-4 days, but I struggled getting through this one because it just never kept my attention.
Such a disappointment.
casebounder's review against another edition
1.0
Well, this one didn't work for me. It wasn't horrible writing, and I didn't get turned off because it made me squeamish. It just tried too hard.
Firstly, there are way too many descriptions of things being gross for the sake of grossing out the reader. The mutton is rotten, the pears are sickly, the bad tooth is casually pulled out, there's a horrid stench in the room, the slop pail has different types of bodily fluids... It all just becomes overkill. (Pun wasn't intended, but I'll allow it!)
Secondly, the book drags on too long. Witnessing scenes from different perspectives is at times clever, but mostly unnecessary and drawn-out. What if this was instead a novella? I think I'd be much more captivated.
Worst of all, really? I didn't enjoy reading this book. I was ready to be finished before I even hit the halfway point, and considered DNF'ing it. But then I'd find moments of interesting passages and I'd soldier on.
I have to say, while reading I mainly had one recurring thought: is this book necessary? Which is never really a good sign.
Firstly, there are way too many descriptions of things being gross for the sake of grossing out the reader. The mutton is rotten, the pears are sickly, the bad tooth is casually pulled out, there's a horrid stench in the room, the slop pail has different types of bodily fluids... It all just becomes overkill. (Pun wasn't intended, but I'll allow it!)
Secondly, the book drags on too long. Witnessing scenes from different perspectives is at times clever, but mostly unnecessary and drawn-out. What if this was instead a novella? I think I'd be much more captivated.
Worst of all, really? I didn't enjoy reading this book. I was ready to be finished before I even hit the halfway point, and considered DNF'ing it. But then I'd find moments of interesting passages and I'd soldier on.
I have to say, while reading I mainly had one recurring thought: is this book necessary? Which is never really a good sign.
ca_mila's review against another edition
2.0
3 stars
I have been fascinated by the story of Lizzie Borden for a while, but I did find that the writing style of this book made the story feel slow and dull at times, and I thought the jumping back ad forth in time was not always clear.
I have been fascinated by the story of Lizzie Borden for a while, but I did find that the writing style of this book made the story feel slow and dull at times, and I thought the jumping back ad forth in time was not always clear.
x0pherl's review against another edition
1.0
This book was incredibly disappointing to me; given the source material (and a book store review that promised more than the book delivered) I was expecting more.
hauntedjen's review against another edition
5.0
Atmospheric, beautiful, and chilling. This novel reminded me of the slowly revealed story in Shirley Jackson's "We Have Always Lived in the Castle". The prose is beautiful, the characters fleshed out, and the mystery of who-done-it is woven deftly through the changing points of view and nonlinear timeline.