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A review by siobhanward
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
NYT Notable Books 2023: 15/100
This was a bit of a disappointment, but it shouldn't have been, since I didn't particularly care for Catton's <i> The Luminaries </i> either. While this was better than that book, it was only by a small margin. Catton insists on making her books long for no real reason that I can see. This book would have been the same without the level of detail and the amount of time we spent going in circles. It felt like everything important happened in the last 50 pages and nothing really got resolved.
This was a bit of a disappointment, but it shouldn't have been, since I didn't particularly care for Catton's <i> The Luminaries </i> either. While this was better than that book, it was only by a small margin. Catton insists on making her books long for no real reason that I can see. This book would have been the same without the level of detail and the amount of time we spent going in circles. It felt like everything important happened in the last 50 pages and nothing really got resolved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident