crikhopit's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely. Haunting. Enchanting. I love how Audrey writes with a touch of supernatural.
laissezfarrell's review against another edition
2.0
The first part (of three) is strong, beautiful, and only confusing in that a lot of characters are thrown at the reader at once. Throughout, Niffenegger again proves she can write about the loss of a lover, and the effect that lover's continued absence has on a character, ridiculously well in multiple contexts. Parts two and three of the novel, however, are inconsistent. The novel changes between characters abruptly--sometimes juxtaposing two or three characters' thoughts in a single paragraph. This would be fine, except there are so many characters that really only one or two get anything close to being fleshed out fully. The others seem shallow, underdeveloped, which is particularly frustrating when Niffenegger gives the reader what should be a character's full arc. The twins' relationship--which is central to the novel--is treated only superficially (one is dominant, the other submissive--and this is true of twins one branch up on the family tree)
References to music, with one exception, seem just like decoration here, as opposed to serving a function. The info-dump chapter in the middle portion of the book feels like Niffenegger wants to impart the reader with knowledge about the cemetery without making it any more important than "it's a pretty place, famous people are buried there, there's some crazy architecture."
The Time Traveler's Wife is a 500+ page novel devoted to one relationship, and (with a couple divergences) two characters' voices. Even if the cast is large, there were two primary voices. Her Fearful Symmetry is a 400 page novel with the thoughts of at least eight characters included. Given a much more straightforward concept, Niffenegger sought to complicate it, but ends up fumbling throughout.
References to music, with one exception, seem just like decoration here, as opposed to serving a function. The info-dump chapter in the middle portion of the book feels like Niffenegger wants to impart the reader with knowledge about the cemetery without making it any more important than "it's a pretty place, famous people are buried there, there's some crazy architecture."
The Time Traveler's Wife is a 500+ page novel devoted to one relationship, and (with a couple divergences) two characters' voices. Even if the cast is large, there were two primary voices. Her Fearful Symmetry is a 400 page novel with the thoughts of at least eight characters included. Given a much more straightforward concept, Niffenegger sought to complicate it, but ends up fumbling throughout.
squaresofliving's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I gave it five stars the first time and I still like it a lot, but maybe it is not a full five... still super though!
bethgee's review against another edition
3.0
Creepy, weird but thoughtful and well-paced. The characters will stay with me for a long time. Not quite as good as TTW.
decafplease's review against another edition
3.0
Most of the time, it felt like the author was trying to be gothic in a realistic way. Hey, magical realism. Only, it didn't work. Passable. Still gothic, only not very suspenseful or dreadful.
louisebowden's review against another edition
2.5
i really liked the vibes of this but the whole elspeth valentina and robert love triangle was way too weird for me
tiffanielle's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Animal death
rachel_mft's review against another edition
5.0
Spectacular. Just spectacular.
It was especially good fun to discover, a little way in, that I had a gothic on my hands, when that wasn't what I was expecting. But even if you don't have a weakness for gothic lit like I do, read this. It's fabulous.
It was especially good fun to discover, a little way in, that I had a gothic on my hands, when that wasn't what I was expecting. But even if you don't have a weakness for gothic lit like I do, read this. It's fabulous.
lindajo's review against another edition
5.0
A+ is how I would grade this book! :-) I loved it. It was a bit different but I am a big fan of different. I thought it was as good as "The Time Traveler's Wife". I will probably read this one again.