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elwhits's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
wadezone's review
2.0
I didn't love this book like others did. I didn't like the whiny Thea character.
sarah_nera's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this sort of against my will. I'm not a horse-loving girl. And the pacing of the book, the flashbacks and whatnot, was a little annoying to me. I felt like reading some of the chapters was like wading through the steamy hot Florida weather DiSclafani describes. Which I respect, as a way of making me feel more in tune with the story. Overall a solid read, with some beautiful parts and some disturbing parts, a good coming-of-age story with an overtone of dirty little secrets and familial strife. There was a defined ending, though, and that's more than I can say for half the books I read these days.
dovesfalling's review against another edition
4.0
Really loved this one.
First thoughts... I just felt a little devastated when I closed the last page. I suppose it was the combination of such elegant writing coming to an end, the fact that, the way their lives ended up, and the fact that you truly can never go home again.
The author's prose reminded me a touch of Curtis Sittenfeld's, which is the biggest compliment I can give. It was spare (and a little odd at times, but it's a first book so I forgive it) and beautiful. I'm looking forward to more from this author.
Favourites?
1)
Of course it's a tad icky that a 30-year-old was in love with a 16-year-old, but I took into account the times, AND Henry himself, who was if anything, a little emotionally stunted and had obviously married before thinking things through. I think he recognized a kindred spirit in Thea - how damaged she was by her family's choices, how she fought so hard against society's expectations of her, and of course, how pretty and self-contained she was. I think he was also attracted to how much she wanted sex - I doubt Mrs. Holmes was up for it much - and when isn't that attractive to a man?
My favourite thing about the relationship though was the power dynamic shifting between them, the way that there was no shame in what they did, the oral sex part - good job, Mr. Holmes - how it wasn't one-sided, and how Thea was never made to feel like a slutty slut as in so many other books. I loved the way the author handled it. I loved how Thea came out in the end.
2) Thea, herself. This is an unpopular opinion (I find women are very critical of characters like this - maybe it makes us uncomfortable when a girl is sexually liberated and knows what she wants? We have to call her a twit, or whiny or a slut, etc) but I really liked what she stood for and how the author crafted her from her environment.
I thought that her cousin was at fault for what happened in terms of how quickly it escalated --
3. The environment.
More later.
First thoughts... I just felt a little devastated when I closed the last page. I suppose it was the combination of such elegant writing coming to an end, the fact that
Spoiler
Henry Holmes and Thea never saw each other againThe author's prose reminded me a touch of Curtis Sittenfeld's, which is the biggest compliment I can give. It was spare (and a little odd at times, but it's a first book so I forgive it) and beautiful. I'm looking forward to more from this author.
Favourites?
1)
Spoiler
The relationship between Mr. Holmes and Thea. Initially I thought that Mr. Holmes was molesting his daughters ... no idea why except the whiff of competitiveness between them - like no, I am going to hold Daddy's hand now and then the whole Rachel debacle, but anyway. I guess I was way off. I liked Mr. Holmes so this upset me and I was happy to be wrong!Of course it's a tad icky that a 30-year-old was in love with a 16-year-old, but I took into account the times, AND Henry himself, who was if anything, a little emotionally stunted and had obviously married before thinking things through. I think he recognized a kindred spirit in Thea - how damaged she was by her family's choices, how she fought so hard against society's expectations of her, and of course, how pretty and self-contained she was. I think he was also attracted to how much she wanted sex - I doubt Mrs. Holmes was up for it much - and when isn't that attractive to a man?
My favourite thing about the relationship though was the power dynamic shifting between them, the way that there was no shame in what they did, the oral sex part - good job, Mr. Holmes - how it wasn't one-sided, and how Thea was never made to feel like a slutty slut as in so many other books. I loved the way the author handled it. I loved how Thea came out in the end.
2) Thea, herself. This is an unpopular opinion (I find women are very critical of characters like this - maybe it makes us uncomfortable when a girl is sexually liberated and knows what she wants? We have to call her a twit, or whiny or a slut, etc) but I really liked what she stood for and how the author crafted her from her environment.
I thought that her cousin was at fault for what happened in terms of how quickly it escalated --
Spoiler
he was older than her and set out to seduce her in no uncertain terms - that seemed clear from the book - he wanted sex, and she was pretty much the only game in town. Yeah, it was gross because they were cousins but I'm surprised that no one picked up on the fact that it was bound to happen because of how isolated they were. The author details how they never see anyone else - it's just the family and the horses. Shouldn't we all just thank our lucky stars that Sam and Thea didn't start experimenting?? It isn't shocking that Thea and Georgie were curious about sex and thought they were in love. Not to me.3. The environment.
More later.
brea_by_the_beach's review against another edition
1.0
I should have stuck to my 50 page limit on books. This one went no where. One dimensional bratty girls stuck in an equestrian school down South, predictable story line, and i kept waiting to care about the protagonist... Waste of time.
izzy_reads7's review
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0