A review by chiaralestino
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I really enjoyed the flow of the story and the mystical energy surrounding the setting, which was really impactful as a result of effective imagery. A mix of intricate and vague details gave the book a somewhat fantastical backdrop despite being set in rural 1900s Australia. It was interesting to me how the events of the book really contrasted the vestal symbols of the young girls' white dresses, flowers and vanity. 
The book definitely had moments where it lost its magic for me, however the writing never felt boring. I still wish it was creepier throughout the whole text. Another reason why it isn't more than 5 stars is because it felt like it has very obvious flaws that are characteristic of white-Australian writing from the past. Despite this, I expected it to be worse so it's a nice surprise that I enjoyed it.
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