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steveatwaywords's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
But this goal, perhaps, is exactly where the novel becomes a bit of a disappointment. At times, it reads as much like a tour intro of Bulgaria rather than a tightly-written and considered story. As others have written, the plot premise stretches credulity, so--so long as a reader is prepared to enjoy the adventure and ignore its likelihood--its merely a fair enough story. For me, that premise (a modern American dives into a mystery of the difficult politics and history of Bulgaria) itself created much of the trouble: in her need to offer native English-speaking readers a character we can relate to (and who would ask our questions), the story became unbelievable. Add to this a too-quickly-sketched and too-convenient climactic scene to resolve it all and I sighed in despair.
The real strength of the novel comes, of course, in the historical story her protagonist uncovers, that of the characters and circumstances of the Soviet-era labor camps where thousands vanished (and which is still problematic for many Bulgarians to discuss). That story, told in the novel through testimony and journals, is compelling and at times beautifully written. It reveals facets of interrogation and prisoner survival that are missed in many similar books. How it colors the lives and behaviors of contemporary politics and families is compelling. And this alone makes this longish novel worth the read.
I wish Kostova trusted her readers enough to write that historical tale and let us live in it. I wish she had trusted herself enough to avoid the few writerly strategies which awkwardly pepper the book for "creative" interest: some awkward point of view shifts, some too-coincidental connections, a kind of uber-capable partner, a remote and implausible love interest, a moment of surreal or magical karma which is left to tantalize only.
The Shadow Land is a worthy and important story nearly betrayed by writerly gimmicks and strategies.
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
laurendonnelly3's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
emmonsannae's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
laurenexploresbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Murder, and War
rodiemom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Murder
mandkips's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder