janettedv's review against another edition
4.0
Good story with grim reminders of how mental illness used to be dealt with
creaseinthespinebooks's review against another edition
5.0
First of all I rarely give out 5 stars but when I do it’s because a story has moved me so much that it takes days and sometimes weeks to get over and this will be the case for The Key.
This was not an easy story to read as we read about asylums and a disturbing look at the misguided and sometimes barbaric treatment of the mentally ill during the 1950s.
Like most asylums and Kathryns research she does a wonderful of casting a bleak picture of the asylum and its dark atmosphere. The characters add to this story and how some of them are treated in ways that you would not think possible and is not for the weak at heart. We also learn the evil ways and horrors of electroshock therapy and the true abuse that these people receive.
And yet even though this is a fictional story it is based on actual facts.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book which evoked many thoughts and feelings.
Kathryn is an author that brings her characters and their surroundings to life. She has written a page turner that deserves to be made into a film.
I need to really look into her other books.
This was not an easy story to read as we read about asylums and a disturbing look at the misguided and sometimes barbaric treatment of the mentally ill during the 1950s.
Like most asylums and Kathryns research she does a wonderful of casting a bleak picture of the asylum and its dark atmosphere. The characters add to this story and how some of them are treated in ways that you would not think possible and is not for the weak at heart. We also learn the evil ways and horrors of electroshock therapy and the true abuse that these people receive.
And yet even though this is a fictional story it is based on actual facts.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book which evoked many thoughts and feelings.
Kathryn is an author that brings her characters and their surroundings to life. She has written a page turner that deserves to be made into a film.
I need to really look into her other books.
_saragaidano's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
august4pancake's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
maryam01's review against another edition
2.0
Nothing really happens in this book. I was really intrigued by the atmosphere and life in the asylum but not much went on besides some depressing parties and Amy trying to escape but failing. I feel like we didn't see much of Ellen's character except that she felt sorry for the inmates.
jajacz's review against another edition
3.0
SPOILER: Kniha ma dosť sklamala. Konanie postav, popis procedúr, popic bežných činnosti v ústave a celý príbeh bol akýsi povrchný. Rozvíjali sa tam vedľajšie linky, ktoré boli len tak utnuté (príbeh starej pani, ktorej umrel manžel). K žiadnej z postav som si nevybudovala vzťah. Neboli vôbec sympatické. Konanie doktora, ktorý Amy miesto prepustenia nechal hniť v ústave a sám sa vyparil. Veď takto to predsa nemohlo fungovať, nie? Ak pacient nemal kam ísť, tak si ho tam nechať a držať na silu a myslieť si, že mu vlastne robíte službu. Amy konala dosť impulzívne, i keď si uvedomovala kde sa nachádza a že každý vzdor, príhoda a problémy jej môžu priťažit. Ku koncu knihy som mala pocit, že stále nie je úplne psychicky v poriadku (mala tam nejaké preblesky podivného chovania pri návšteve doktora) Vlastne tento príbeh neviem ani zaradiť. Nebola to ani romantika, ani psychothriller. Veľkú plus boli krátke kapitoly, preto sa kniha čítala svižne.
bookbel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ashlimcdaniel's review against another edition
3.0
Didn’t leave up to my expectations
I fell in love with Kathryn Hughes after reading The Letter and I expected this book to be as gripping and emotional as the former. I was slightly disappointed with this book but I did still enjoy it.
I was never completely connected with any of the characters, though I did sympathize with Amy and I’m please with how her story ended. The dialogue I think ruined this for me as it seemed choppy and not true or filled with emotion. I was really pulled into the story about half way thru once the two timelines connected and from then on out I was committed to story.
I fell in love with Kathryn Hughes after reading The Letter and I expected this book to be as gripping and emotional as the former. I was slightly disappointed with this book but I did still enjoy it.
I was never completely connected with any of the characters, though I did sympathize with Amy and I’m please with how her story ended. The dialogue I think ruined this for me as it seemed choppy and not true or filled with emotion. I was really pulled into the story about half way thru once the two timelines connected and from then on out I was committed to story.
kathrinh's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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? Yes
2.0