Reviews

O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker

kiramke's review against another edition

dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I adored this to the point that I struggle to review it. It is sharp and cruel and bleak, but in such a good way. 

claire_s's review against another edition

dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

shellycbuchanan's review against another edition

5.0

Best book. Loved every line. Will buy a print copy for chronic re-reading. ❤️

ldepastino's review against another edition

5.0

only reading scottish gothic from now on

meythegreat's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

shinysarah28's review

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

oliviakateamerica's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

vhlm's review against another edition

4.5

What a fascinating book! The mix of genre works really well and is quite enticing. The protagonist is not a very symphatic character, but the mix of hoping for her to find her place in life and knowing her end from the very beginning onwards is gripping. 
It really painted a very atmospheric picture of Scottish nature and life up there (at least from a well-off family).

ismay345's review against another edition

4.0

4.5✨

smuds2's review against another edition

3.0

This is a charming book, so I don't want to give the impression that I didn't like it. I'm just not quite sure why it is so loved. Like it's got an incredibly lovable unlovable set of characters. It is quirky. It's faux gothic. It's unique. It's funny. But there isn't really a story? It's just kind of vignettes?

I don't even feel realistically connected to the characters -- they're all too un-life-like for that. It feels a little bit like series of unfortunate events meets uk humor.

I especially liked towards the end where Janet gets a bit more mature, and there are kind of these associative thoughts. Those were fun.

IDK it was just a fun book. Probably won't read again, but I'd recommend to people with teens+ kids as a fun(ny) entertaining book.