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mattcollard's review against another edition
2.0
The writing is lyrical, as expected with a Hannah Kent novel, and I really enjoyed the story in the first half. However I didn't like the direction the book went in the second half and I lost interest in the characters and where the story was heading. Ended up DNFing with 100 pages left.
renaereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
ellerose21's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.25
Really interesting historical fiction - I loved the change in narration halfway through and how beautiful it all felt
bruederin's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.75
jaslyn_'s review against another edition
4.0
good lord I was seriously torn between giving this either 4 or 5 stars
There's so much to say about this. First of all THE PROSE. God it was even more gorgeous than my expectations leading into this. Like one of those paintings you stare at in the museum wondering how you can go on living after witnessing something THIS beautiful. Who on earth starts a book with THAT banger of a stanza and expects us not to believe it'll get even more beautiful? (spoiler: it does lol)
The romance between the two was just heartsquishingly gorgeous to read but frankly, as much as it was beautiful to read I had to suspend my own disbelief at some points and wonder aloud whether two under-18 year old girls would say this kinda stuff to one another (I'd like to put my head where your hands have been) yea c'mon
I really did not want to dock a star but I had to because I was a little heartbroken by the plot and some aspects of Hanne's intertwined personality/facet of being with nature felt a bit repetitive. Yea I know she communes with the earth and trees and the water and it's all pretty to read the first time through but this is fleshed out VERY repetitively throughout the novel right up until the end
Speaking of which, I wish the end was expanded on a bit more, as satisfying as it was.
NO REGRETS READING THIS GODDDDDD the PROSE MADE UP FOR EVERYTHING
There's so much to say about this. First of all THE PROSE. God it was even more gorgeous than my expectations leading into this. Like one of those paintings you stare at in the museum wondering how you can go on living after witnessing something THIS beautiful. Who on earth starts a book with THAT banger of a stanza and expects us not to believe it'll get even more beautiful? (spoiler: it does lol)
The romance between the two was just heartsquishingly gorgeous to read but frankly, as much as it was beautiful to read I had to suspend my own disbelief at some points and wonder aloud whether two under-18 year old girls would say this kinda stuff to one another (I'd like to put my head where your hands have been) yea c'mon
I really did not want to dock a star but I had to because I was a little heartbroken by the plot and some aspects of Hanne's intertwined personality/facet of being with nature felt a bit repetitive. Yea I know she communes with the earth and trees and the water and it's all pretty to read the first time through but this is fleshed out VERY repetitively throughout the novel right up until the end
Speaking of which, I wish the end was expanded on a bit more, as satisfying as it was.
NO REGRETS READING THIS GODDDDDD the PROSE MADE UP FOR EVERYTHING
alexjreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Hannah Kent babe oh my god
adriannasophiabookss's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Wow what a book!
This is a historical sapphic novel that begins in 1830’s Prussia and follows Hanne, a Lutheran who lives in a small village in Germany. One day she meets Thea and the two become inseparable but then the Lutheran community is offered the chance to emigrate to South Australia and to finally be free from persecution. The journey is long and dangerous and as they set off, Hanne and Thea’s bonds are tested by tragedy.
I love historical novels that focus on pieces of history that aren’t necessarily widely talked about. This piece of history, the Lutheran emigration to South Australia (or colonisation as it was really) is something I personally had never learnt about in school or had heard of before. The authors writing really immerses you in the time period and the daily lives of these characters. For example; when they were on the ship I could literally feel the seasickness Hannah Kent was describing. Her writing is incredibly lyrical and atmospheric. There were so many beautiful lines in here.
At first I wasn’t too sure about the magical realism aspect of the book but I ended up really enjoying it. I think it added another dimension to the story and we got to see things we wouldn’t have otherwise seen, parts of the story would not have been able to happen. This book is very much steeped in nature and if you love magical realism involving nature you will love this.
I felt so attached to the characters, I loved seeing the members of this community throughout this time period and how their lives progressed. Hanne and Thea had such a beautiful relationship, I was desperately rooting for them and that ending had me tearing up.
I believe this novel was actually published last year but the paperback came out in early May 2023 so definitely grab this one if you like a historical novel with a touch of magical realism and that is quite character heavy. I’m so excited to read more of Hannah Kent’s work!
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Wow what a book!
This is a historical sapphic novel that begins in 1830’s Prussia and follows Hanne, a Lutheran who lives in a small village in Germany. One day she meets Thea and the two become inseparable but then the Lutheran community is offered the chance to emigrate to South Australia and to finally be free from persecution. The journey is long and dangerous and as they set off, Hanne and Thea’s bonds are tested by tragedy.
I love historical novels that focus on pieces of history that aren’t necessarily widely talked about. This piece of history, the Lutheran emigration to South Australia (or colonisation as it was really) is something I personally had never learnt about in school or had heard of before. The authors writing really immerses you in the time period and the daily lives of these characters. For example; when they were on the ship I could literally feel the seasickness Hannah Kent was describing. Her writing is incredibly lyrical and atmospheric. There were so many beautiful lines in here.
At first I wasn’t too sure about the magical realism aspect of the book but I ended up really enjoying it. I think it added another dimension to the story and we got to see things we wouldn’t have otherwise seen, parts of the story would not have been able to happen. This book is very much steeped in nature and if you love magical realism involving nature you will love this.
I felt so attached to the characters, I loved seeing the members of this community throughout this time period and how their lives progressed. Hanne and Thea had such a beautiful relationship, I was desperately rooting for them and that ending had me tearing up.
I believe this novel was actually published last year but the paperback came out in early May 2023 so definitely grab this one if you like a historical novel with a touch of magical realism and that is quite character heavy. I’m so excited to read more of Hannah Kent’s work!
talitha's review against another edition
3.0
De eerste helft van dit verhaal was zo goed! De schrijfstijl, de sfeer, de personages.. Maar toen kwam de twist en was ik te teleurgesteld om daarin mee te gaan. Er was teveel afstand en ik kon niet meer goed in het verhaal komen.
carlymaria's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
lindsayashworth21478's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0