caylincarmichael's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book amazed me. It was a great mystery but I loved that since it took place in Morocco the culture was a good part of it and I found it very interesting. My only complaint is that I despised Paul so much from the beginning that I found even the small sex scenes cringey, however I won't let that hinder my rating. Normally,
Spoiler
I don't like books that don't close the ending, but in this case I think it was appropriate. It went well with Paul's mysterious personality and I think finding out what happened to him wouldn't have made the ending as good. I liked that it focused more on Robin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Murder
taralpittman's review against another edition
4.0
As a young girl, my inclination toward reading developed as a way for me to get out of whatever space I physically and mentally inhabited; I've never been a huge fan of crowds, noisy places and loud voices but, while reading, I can tune all of that out and focus on a completely different world. The more this environment differs from my own, the more deeply entrenched I seem to become, and that feeling of being swept away is delightful. Other than it being described as "completely absorbing and atmospheric" and one of the "best books about Morocco," I didn't know a lot about The Blue Hour; since I love being transported to other countries, cultures and environments through reading, I thought I'd give it a try.
The story begins somewhat predictably: Robin, an accountant who has just hit the big 4-0, is married to Paul, a hipster artist who is 18 years her senior; she loves that he's completely ruled by his creative tendencies...until she doesn't. These things rarely work out, even in the movies, because no accountant can handle being around a flighty creative type who can't seem to get their life organized.
Paul receives an offer to travel to Morocco and, in an effort to rekindle their relationship, Robin decides to tag along. She lines things up at work and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime; those of you who have traveled to foreign countries know that these adventures rarely pass without a few wild rides, and I was highly entertained by the vivid descriptions of their travels.
"As we drove off we ran into a small flotilla of geese and chickens, herded alongside the city walls by a man in a white djellaba and skullcap. The driver honked his horn in a short, nonchalant manner, indicating that the shepherd should get his livestock out of the way. Nearby was a man wheeling a barrel filled with unrefined cotton. And - this was hallucinatory - a fellow sitting in front of a basket, intoning a tune on a reedy instrument as a python ascended upward from the straw hoop."
Just as I began to fear that this was going to be a beautifully-written, yet somewhat boring, tale...Paul goes missing. I'm not going to share any spoilers, other than to say that this event marks the beginning of a completely different narrative and journey for Robin which is dangerous, ridiculous, scary and questionable. It's no secret that I enjoy flawed, broken characters, but this was a little over the top for me and wandered into some strange combination of romance/suspense territory.
Regardless of whether you enjoy the story line, I have to say that it was (mostly) worth reading for the scenery; I've never traveled to Morocco, but Kennedy had me dreaming. I could hear the noises along the street, smell the sidewalk vendors and see the locals as clearly as if I were in front of all of them.
It didn't take me long to finish this one and I found that Kennedy shares plenty of life lessons via his struggling heroine. I might not suggest this one for a book club read (due to mentions/descriptions of sexual violence that may be tough for some) but, when it's windy and cold and wet outside, a trip to Morocco might be just the thing you need.
The story begins somewhat predictably: Robin, an accountant who has just hit the big 4-0, is married to Paul, a hipster artist who is 18 years her senior; she loves that he's completely ruled by his creative tendencies...until she doesn't. These things rarely work out, even in the movies, because no accountant can handle being around a flighty creative type who can't seem to get their life organized.
Paul receives an offer to travel to Morocco and, in an effort to rekindle their relationship, Robin decides to tag along. She lines things up at work and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime; those of you who have traveled to foreign countries know that these adventures rarely pass without a few wild rides, and I was highly entertained by the vivid descriptions of their travels.
"As we drove off we ran into a small flotilla of geese and chickens, herded alongside the city walls by a man in a white djellaba and skullcap. The driver honked his horn in a short, nonchalant manner, indicating that the shepherd should get his livestock out of the way. Nearby was a man wheeling a barrel filled with unrefined cotton. And - this was hallucinatory - a fellow sitting in front of a basket, intoning a tune on a reedy instrument as a python ascended upward from the straw hoop."
Just as I began to fear that this was going to be a beautifully-written, yet somewhat boring, tale...Paul goes missing. I'm not going to share any spoilers, other than to say that this event marks the beginning of a completely different narrative and journey for Robin which is dangerous, ridiculous, scary and questionable. It's no secret that I enjoy flawed, broken characters, but this was a little over the top for me and wandered into some strange combination of romance/suspense territory.
Regardless of whether you enjoy the story line, I have to say that it was (mostly) worth reading for the scenery; I've never traveled to Morocco, but Kennedy had me dreaming. I could hear the noises along the street, smell the sidewalk vendors and see the locals as clearly as if I were in front of all of them.
It didn't take me long to finish this one and I found that Kennedy shares plenty of life lessons via his struggling heroine. I might not suggest this one for a book club read (due to mentions/descriptions of sexual violence that may be tough for some) but, when it's windy and cold and wet outside, a trip to Morocco might be just the thing you need.
austenheroineinprogress's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ariereads's review
Spoiler
Can we please put a moratorium on men writing POV rape scenes with non-male victims already? (Or... just in general?)oliviapengle's review
2.0
My full review: https://pintsnpages.wordpress.com/2016/05/31/the-blue-hour-by-douglas-kennedy/
I picked up this book because I dream of going to Morocco some day. It’s a country that I find immensely fascinating. Douglas Kennedy, to his credit, accurately positions the country in its contradictions: the beauty of the scenery, cuisine and average people juxtaposed with the horror of the heat, lawlessness and danger for solo female travelers. These wondrous descriptions of Marrakesh, Casablanca, and the Sahara, among other locations, are the only reasons I held on to the story the whole way.
I picked up this book because I dream of going to Morocco some day. It’s a country that I find immensely fascinating. Douglas Kennedy, to his credit, accurately positions the country in its contradictions: the beauty of the scenery, cuisine and average people juxtaposed with the horror of the heat, lawlessness and danger for solo female travelers. These wondrous descriptions of Marrakesh, Casablanca, and the Sahara, among other locations, are the only reasons I held on to the story the whole way.
sarahsbookshelves's review against another edition
2.0
[2.5 stars]
Went downhill after a great start...not what I expected. More to come.
Went downhill after a great start...not what I expected. More to come.
whatsheread's review against another edition
The Blue Hour is one of those novels that has it all. It has mysterious characters with hidden agendas. It has a kick-ass heroine who is put through all that life can throw at her plus more. It is set in an exotic locale that is romantic in its foreignness while simultaneously emitting an undercurrent of danger specifically because of its differences. The story itself is the epitome of a page-turner, as the heroine faces danger, uncomfortable truths, and uncovered secrets that rock the very foundation of her world. Just when you think the story cannot get any better, something occurs which throws both Robin and the reader into a cycle of doubt and wonder. It is unlike anything you have read or will read again, and sadly, not enough people will read this marvelous story.
Never one to shy away from tough questions and situations, Mr. Kennedy does not write simple thrillers. His stories have a depth to them that force readers to ask themselves the same tough questions asked of his characters. In The Blue Hour, he puts Robin through her paces as the main character. She faces unfathomable situations that would make a grown man weep. Yet, the truly intriguing thing about her is her motivations for her actions. While it may be easy to find fault with some of the insane things she does, Mr. Kennedy makes sure that readers cannot do so without first doing a little self-reflection.
After reading two of Mr. Kennedy’s novels, he became one of those must-read authors for me. Unfortunately, his novels are not ones I see reviewed very often in the online book world, and this truly saddens me. His writing is absolutely gorgeous, and his stories are faultless. The Blue Hour only confirms my opinions of his writing mastery. I only hope everyone else finally discovers him and loves his work as much as I do.
Never one to shy away from tough questions and situations, Mr. Kennedy does not write simple thrillers. His stories have a depth to them that force readers to ask themselves the same tough questions asked of his characters. In The Blue Hour, he puts Robin through her paces as the main character. She faces unfathomable situations that would make a grown man weep. Yet, the truly intriguing thing about her is her motivations for her actions. While it may be easy to find fault with some of the insane things she does, Mr. Kennedy makes sure that readers cannot do so without first doing a little self-reflection.
After reading two of Mr. Kennedy’s novels, he became one of those must-read authors for me. Unfortunately, his novels are not ones I see reviewed very often in the online book world, and this truly saddens me. His writing is absolutely gorgeous, and his stories are faultless. The Blue Hour only confirms my opinions of his writing mastery. I only hope everyone else finally discovers him and loves his work as much as I do.
sojo's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this book for free through the Goodreads Advance Giveaway.
I'll admit I picked up this book on a whim and wasn't really sure what to expect. The fact that I finished it over the course of two days shows it is definitely a compelling read, and one that sucked me into the "just one more chapter" zone. The book begins with a seemingly happy, if a little strained at times, married couple heading to Morocco for an inpromptu summer vacation. The first few chapters lull you into a false sense of security almost, before the wife makes a discovery that sets the mystery in motion. Her husband then vanishes, and she faces many trials and ordeals whilst trying to find him. I did wonder for a while if the husband was going to be a bit of an overblown character, but in reality I think most people know someone who gets themselves into scrapes without really trying, and will then hide their mistakes rather than face the consequences. My biggest criticisms were of some of the characters the wife meets (particularly after the desert) who seems to be rather stereotypical, and the ending, which to me was a little too neat and tidy. Having said that, these are relatively minor criticisms as this was definitely a book that I enjoyed reading.
Moral of the story: Maybe don't marry the attractive, but financially irresponsible, artist!
I'll admit I picked up this book on a whim and wasn't really sure what to expect. The fact that I finished it over the course of two days shows it is definitely a compelling read, and one that sucked me into the "just one more chapter" zone. The book begins with a seemingly happy, if a little strained at times, married couple heading to Morocco for an inpromptu summer vacation. The first few chapters lull you into a false sense of security almost, before the wife makes a discovery that sets the mystery in motion. Her husband then vanishes, and she faces many trials and ordeals whilst trying to find him. I did wonder for a while if the husband was going to be a bit of an overblown character, but in reality I think most people know someone who gets themselves into scrapes without really trying, and will then hide their mistakes rather than face the consequences. My biggest criticisms were of some of the characters the wife meets (particularly after the desert) who seems to be rather stereotypical, and the ending, which to me was a little too neat and tidy. Having said that, these are relatively minor criticisms as this was definitely a book that I enjoyed reading.
Moral of the story: Maybe don't marry the attractive, but financially irresponsible, artist!
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