A review by smuds2
O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker

3.0

This is a charming book, so I don't want to give the impression that I didn't like it. I'm just not quite sure why it is so loved. Like it's got an incredibly lovable unlovable set of characters. It is quirky. It's faux gothic. It's unique. It's funny. But there isn't really a story? It's just kind of vignettes?

I don't even feel realistically connected to the characters -- they're all too un-life-like for that. It feels a little bit like series of unfortunate events meets uk humor.

I especially liked towards the end where Janet gets a bit more mature, and there are kind of these associative thoughts. Those were fun.

IDK it was just a fun book. Probably won't read again, but I'd recommend to people with teens+ kids as a fun(ny) entertaining book.