happystar's review against another edition
4.0
i can't move because i’m stunned into silence right now. Tin man is sublime and yet sad. It’s raw, beautiful and heartbreaking. This book is the tender brutal feeling of a gut punch.
whatdaniellereadnext2021's review against another edition
4.0
I have to be honest and say I really struggled to get into this book, for about the first 30%. It was for multiple reasons, not all of them the books fault. I think the biggest issue I had with the start of the book was the dialogue. There was a lot of it and it wasn't written in speech marks. Not a problem in itself, but couple that with there being a lot of different voices in Ellis' first chapter and I was struggling.
Another reason was that Ellis' first chapter was incredibly dull. He described his work day, the people, his breaks - everything really, but it feels dreary. It's supposed to, I'm sure, but I just found it hard to want to continue.
I'm glad I did though. Because by the time Annie enters the story it really picks up and becomes a truly beautiful read about love and friendship.
As ever, my reviews are spoiler free, which I feel really limits what I can say about this book. Part of the magic for me was in watching the story unfold, not knowing where it was going next.
The friendships and relationships encountered in this book are beautifully written and very powerful. The writing is lyrical and emotive making Tin Man a truly haunting reading.
Another reason was that Ellis' first chapter was incredibly dull. He described his work day, the people, his breaks - everything really, but it feels dreary. It's supposed to, I'm sure, but I just found it hard to want to continue.
I'm glad I did though. Because by the time Annie enters the story it really picks up and becomes a truly beautiful read about love and friendship.
As ever, my reviews are spoiler free, which I feel really limits what I can say about this book. Part of the magic for me was in watching the story unfold, not knowing where it was going next.
The friendships and relationships encountered in this book are beautifully written and very powerful. The writing is lyrical and emotive making Tin Man a truly haunting reading.
arvonka's review against another edition
5.0
Jemný, citlivý, poetický, krásny. To sú slová, ktorými by som popísala príbeh odohrávajúci sa v tejto útlej a už na pohľad peknej knihe. Dej plynie ležérnym tempom bez akýchkoľvek rušivých momentov. Krátkymi, jednoduchými vetami, vďaka ktorým sa kniha číta neuveriteľne ľahko, dokáže autorka príjemne pohladiť, ale aj zaťať veľmi hlboko. Niekoľkokrát mi zlomila srdce, no napriek tomu vo mne kniha nevyvolávala clivotu. Naopak, mala som taký zvláštny pocit spokojnosti a pokoja a, pozor, prichádza klišé - aj pohladenia duše.
bibliobethreads's review
4.0
I've had this book on my TBR shelves since a little while after it was released and I picked myself up a gorgeous signed copy coincidentally in the same place the majority of the book is set, Oxford on a wonderful bookshop crawl. I was however, VERY nervous to start reading it for a number of reasons. The first is that whilst I enjoyed Sarah Winman's debut novel, When God Was A Rabbit (which I read in my pre-blogging days), I unfortunately didn't get on so well with her second, A Year Of Marvellous Ways. When I initially heard that this was coming out, I wasn't even sure I was going to read it but then the buzz started with a lot of reviewers whose opinion I trust praising it to the hills. Well, then I just knew that I had to be part of the phenomenon and discover what everyone was talking about. Can I see what all the fuss was about? The short answer to that is yes I can - Winman is a fabulous wordsmith with the English language and I was immediately enraptured by the characters of both Ellis and Michael. Whilst it wasn't necessarily a five star read for me personally, for the lyrical beauty of the narrative alone I simply have to recommend it to others.
The synopsis of this novel is suitably vague, other reviews I have read have been mostly quite mysterious and now having read this novel, I can see why and will continue to do the same in my own review. It is a love story (of sorts) but it's also about friendship, loss, grief, despair, not being able to be the person that you want to be and how chasms in your life can be bridged if you have the right person there with you, holding your hand and offering support during tough times. Initially, we focus on Ellis and Michael who have both struggled with issues at home and develop a fast, meaningful friendship which helps both boys deal with their personal demons in similar (and very different) ways. However, when we first meet Ellis, he is on his own, suffering in stoic silence once more and Michael is nowhere to be seen. During the second part of the narrative, we find out where Michael is, more about him as a character and what happened during the years of their friendship that led both men to the point they now find themselves.
Tin Man is a book that can easily be read in one sitting being a mere 208 pages long in paperback format. I read it in two sittings as I was in the middle of a few different books at the time but I still managed to finish it within a day as I found the writing style to be absolutely delicious, delving deep into my mind and senses like melted butter and it was easy to become immersed in the story. There were some truly beautiful moments that stand out and some incredibly poignant, heart-breaking ones too but I have to admit, the style might not be for everyone. Winman plays around with words, phrases and the emotions of our characters so gorgeously that the effect of it all wasn't really evident for me until I had reached the final page and it was only then I realised the impact of what I had just read.
However, it is written in a sort of stream of consciousness way and often the reader is left to connect the dots themselves regarding certain things the author is alluding to that are left pretty much unsaid but gently suggested. Personally, I enjoy a novel where parts are more vague, left up in the air and the reader is left to draw their own conclusions about aspects of the story but I do understand it's not everyone's cup of tea so just throwing that out there! I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this novel but I completely understand what the author was trying to do and applaud her for it. The writing as I've mentioned (probably too much now!) was magical, there was tenderness, devastation and nothing was ever really resolved by the end which made it all the more gut-wrenching as a result.
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
The synopsis of this novel is suitably vague, other reviews I have read have been mostly quite mysterious and now having read this novel, I can see why and will continue to do the same in my own review. It is a love story (of sorts) but it's also about friendship, loss, grief, despair, not being able to be the person that you want to be and how chasms in your life can be bridged if you have the right person there with you, holding your hand and offering support during tough times. Initially, we focus on Ellis and Michael who have both struggled with issues at home and develop a fast, meaningful friendship which helps both boys deal with their personal demons in similar (and very different) ways. However, when we first meet Ellis, he is on his own, suffering in stoic silence once more and Michael is nowhere to be seen. During the second part of the narrative, we find out where Michael is, more about him as a character and what happened during the years of their friendship that led both men to the point they now find themselves.
Tin Man is a book that can easily be read in one sitting being a mere 208 pages long in paperback format. I read it in two sittings as I was in the middle of a few different books at the time but I still managed to finish it within a day as I found the writing style to be absolutely delicious, delving deep into my mind and senses like melted butter and it was easy to become immersed in the story. There were some truly beautiful moments that stand out and some incredibly poignant, heart-breaking ones too but I have to admit, the style might not be for everyone. Winman plays around with words, phrases and the emotions of our characters so gorgeously that the effect of it all wasn't really evident for me until I had reached the final page and it was only then I realised the impact of what I had just read.
However, it is written in a sort of stream of consciousness way and often the reader is left to connect the dots themselves regarding certain things the author is alluding to that are left pretty much unsaid but gently suggested. Personally, I enjoy a novel where parts are more vague, left up in the air and the reader is left to draw their own conclusions about aspects of the story but I do understand it's not everyone's cup of tea so just throwing that out there! I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this novel but I completely understand what the author was trying to do and applaud her for it. The writing as I've mentioned (probably too much now!) was magical, there was tenderness, devastation and nothing was ever really resolved by the end which made it all the more gut-wrenching as a result.
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
limonik's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars! What a beautifully sad story... The story dances around different times in Ellis and Michael’s lives, starting with Dora, Ellis’ mother, continues to a very lonely middle-aged Ellis mourning the loss of his wife Annie whilst remembering moments from his own childhood, adolescence and life in general. Ellis and Michael meet when they were little boys. Ellis’ mother Dora inspired both their lives through her attitude, her hopes and her replica of Van Gogh’s sunflowers. Ellis and Michael grow up together, discover life and their identities. Ellis meets and marries Annie and Michael goes to live in London. The three of them meet again after several years when Michael comes back to Oxford. The author manages to take me on a journey into Ellis and Michael’s lives. I feel so sad and cannot stop thinking what would have happened if Ellis and Michael had made other decisions, had had more courage. I just feel sad. The reason why I did not give this book 5-stars is the sickness part written in Michael’s diary.
ruby_fiora's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
rachelbpaul's review
5.0
Listened to the audio book which was narrated by the author. At first it was hard for me to keep up with the timelines and accent but loved loved this
novel_nomad's review
5.0
4.5 Stars
A beautiful and gentle exploration of the bonds of friendship, the freedom of love, and the trials of grief. It was short but vivid novel replicating the depth seen in Van Gogh's Sunflowers.
A beautiful and gentle exploration of the bonds of friendship, the freedom of love, and the trials of grief. It was short but vivid novel replicating the depth seen in Van Gogh's Sunflowers.
andrewth11's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.0