Reviews

The Western Wind by Samantha Harvey

hyperchaoschidi's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

A beautiful work of historical fiction following a priest after the death of a prominent man in town, starting from a few days before his death and working towards the day of his death. Harvey excels at weaving together the small community and cast of characters in the book, as well as creating space to reflect on religion and community more broadly. Was an absolutely excellent read, very internally focused, and the plot unfurls in a way that is satisfying.

zoer03's review

1.0

I don’t know if it’s me or how the author writes but.... I found it really slow going... confusing.... infuriatingly complex and just down right dull tedious and boring. What has happened to writing a novel? I don’t want prose or if I do to at least not make it so bloody difficult to follow. I would not recommend this to anyone

thameslink's review against another edition

3.0

A mood rather than a story, in towards the bottom of the medieval monk chart:


1. Narcissus and Goldmund
2. Q
3. An instance of the fingerpost
4. The name of the rose
5. The western wind
….
6. The pillars of the earth

martaasworm's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

alexismsw's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

davidpanik's review against another edition

informative mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

cjbaird's review against another edition

mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

charlote_1347's review

2.0

Evocative writing. Monotonous plot.

evieintheshire's review

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

the_sunken_library's review

2.0

Beautifully written, incredibly boring and poorly researched. I know it's not meant to be a "historical novel" but it might have been nice to have some accuracies about the time, town and people being written about.