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luluwoohoo's reviews
472 reviews
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston (audiobook narrated by Emma Galvin and Max Meyers)
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
The latest release from my favourite contemporary romance author - and most anticipated release of the year - delivers on every level. This luscious love affair pushes boundaries in all of the right ways.
For a book whose unofficial tagline is "slutty bisexuals in Europe", I can't think of a book more targeted to me! I love how unapologetically sexual and sensual and bougie it is. It doesn't try to represent reality so much as it shows life through a romantic tinted lens in which beautiful people do things with other beautiful people, and this kind of escapist realism is totally my jam.
McQuiston has always written beautiful prose but this is probably their most exquisite work to date. The evocative, indulgent way they describe not only food, drinks and art, which are all essential parts of the narrative, but especially the love shared between the main characters, creates such a captivating atmosphere that I struggled to put it down, wanting to read on and on.
The longing and tension between Theo and Kit is structured brilliantly for a second chance romance, as is the POV shift halfway through. It is a unique take on the genre in this way, and also sets up perfectly the reveal of Theo's non-binary status. The sex scenes are undeniably hot and although not for everyone, really sold me on the growth of McQuiston as a writer. Emma and Max's performances are both knockouts with the various languages and accents required to pull off this book!
My one very minor criticism is that unlike in McQuiston's other novels I didn't find the supporting characters as well developed, but it also feels less important in the context of this story.
In summary: I love these slutty bisexuals.
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
The latest release from my favourite contemporary romance author - and most anticipated release of the year - delivers on every level. This luscious love affair pushes boundaries in all of the right ways.
For a book whose unofficial tagline is "slutty bisexuals in Europe", I can't think of a book more targeted to me! I love how unapologetically sexual and sensual and bougie it is. It doesn't try to represent reality so much as it shows life through a romantic tinted lens in which beautiful people do things with other beautiful people, and this kind of escapist realism is totally my jam.
McQuiston has always written beautiful prose but this is probably their most exquisite work to date. The evocative, indulgent way they describe not only food, drinks and art, which are all essential parts of the narrative, but especially the love shared between the main characters, creates such a captivating atmosphere that I struggled to put it down, wanting to read on and on.
The longing and tension between Theo and Kit is structured brilliantly for a second chance romance, as is the POV shift halfway through. It is a unique take on the genre in this way, and also sets up perfectly the reveal of Theo's non-binary status. The sex scenes are undeniably hot and although not for everyone, really sold me on the growth of McQuiston as a writer. Emma and Max's performances are both knockouts with the various languages and accents required to pull off this book!
My one very minor criticism is that unlike in McQuiston's other novels I didn't find the supporting characters as well developed, but it also feels less important in the context of this story.
In summary: I love these slutty bisexuals.
"'Have you considered also fucking the director?'
'Not every problem can be solved by sleeping with it,' Sloane replies.
'Not with that attitude.'"
Swing Time by Zadie Smith
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Swing Time by Zadie Smith
☀️☀️🌤️
This character study dives into many important topics with gusto, but there's simply too much of it to appreciate the gems amongst the dirt.
Smith is a wonderful writer, that much is clear. Her prose is lovely and the way she weaves social commentary on racial divide, classism, and celebrity culture amongst the ongoing theme of dance is beautiful. Where it falls apart is the length - this book is arguably too long for what it actually achieves on those topics - and the passivity of the narrator. Our unnamed MC lacks any significant drive, so the book is essentially a long meander through life, observing flaws in others but rarely in herself in a meaningful way.
Structurally the varying timelines didn't confuse me by any means, but I often struggled to link them together when they were put side by side. Maybe I'm not intelligent enough to draw the correct parallels. I was much more engaged with the first act in which we meet Tracey and grow up with her, and I did also enjoy the Africa subplot, but from that point there was so much other stuff going on I struggled to dive in and connect with those aspects like I wanted to.
I think perhaps this was not the best Zadie Smith book to attempt as an introduction to her work. I'm glad I attempted it, and there are certainly standout portions of this, but I'm unlikely to ever venture back in and find them considering the lack of connection I felt throughout and no wow moment at the end to tie it all together.
☀️☀️🌤️
This character study dives into many important topics with gusto, but there's simply too much of it to appreciate the gems amongst the dirt.
Smith is a wonderful writer, that much is clear. Her prose is lovely and the way she weaves social commentary on racial divide, classism, and celebrity culture amongst the ongoing theme of dance is beautiful. Where it falls apart is the length - this book is arguably too long for what it actually achieves on those topics - and the passivity of the narrator. Our unnamed MC lacks any significant drive, so the book is essentially a long meander through life, observing flaws in others but rarely in herself in a meaningful way.
Structurally the varying timelines didn't confuse me by any means, but I often struggled to link them together when they were put side by side. Maybe I'm not intelligent enough to draw the correct parallels. I was much more engaged with the first act in which we meet Tracey and grow up with her, and I did also enjoy the Africa subplot, but from that point there was so much other stuff going on I struggled to dive in and connect with those aspects like I wanted to.
I think perhaps this was not the best Zadie Smith book to attempt as an introduction to her work. I'm glad I attempted it, and there are certainly standout portions of this, but I'm unlikely to ever venture back in and find them considering the lack of connection I felt throughout and no wow moment at the end to tie it all together.
"Other girls had rhythm in their limbs, some had it in their hips or their little backsides but she had rhythm in individual ligaments, probably in individual cells. Every movement was as sharp and precise as any child could hope to make it, her body could align itself with any time signature, no matter how intricate [...] She knew the right time to do everything."
Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield
☀️☀️☀️☀️
This hypnotic, mysterious and heartfelt story examines grief and loss in a truly unique fashion, mirroring films like 'Arrival' and 'Midnight Special' in tone and scope.
The blending of what is ostensibly a horror into something much softer and more romantic was not something I expected, but I found myself enjoying the journey. Though none of the questions I had at the start of my read were answered, I'm not as frustrated as I would have imagined by this fact - the lens through which we view it is via the relationship between Miri and Leah, so the focus remaining there felt appropriate.
I would have liked a clearer distinction between the POVs of the main characters in terms of the writing style, but I liked the alternate timelines playing out as they did. Miri's apathy towards the inevitable decline of Leah was both disappointing and somehow understandable given the outlandish circumstances, and the slow, drawn out loss of her was handled well.
At times I was struck by the beauty of Armfield's prose, but in others I was bothered by the overuse of water imagery or teeth/mouth imagery.
For a debut novel I am impressed by the various genres Armfield managed to weave together coherently. This is definitely a niche story, but one that certainly appealed to me.
☀️☀️☀️☀️
This hypnotic, mysterious and heartfelt story examines grief and loss in a truly unique fashion, mirroring films like 'Arrival' and 'Midnight Special' in tone and scope.
The blending of what is ostensibly a horror into something much softer and more romantic was not something I expected, but I found myself enjoying the journey. Though none of the questions I had at the start of my read were answered, I'm not as frustrated as I would have imagined by this fact - the lens through which we view it is via the relationship between Miri and Leah, so the focus remaining there felt appropriate.
I would have liked a clearer distinction between the POVs of the main characters in terms of the writing style, but I liked the alternate timelines playing out as they did. Miri's apathy towards the inevitable decline of Leah was both disappointing and somehow understandable given the outlandish circumstances, and the slow, drawn out loss of her was handled well.
At times I was struck by the beauty of Armfield's prose, but in others I was bothered by the overuse of water imagery or teeth/mouth imagery.
For a debut novel I am impressed by the various genres Armfield managed to weave together coherently. This is definitely a niche story, but one that certainly appealed to me.
"I used to think there was such a thing as emptiness, that there were places in the world one could go and be alone. This, I still think, is true, but the error in my reasoning was to assume that alone was somewhere you could go, rather than somewhere you had to be left."
Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare Vol. 1 by Yuhki Kamatani
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Our Dreams At Dusk volume 1 by Yuhki Kamatani
☀️☀️☀️
This manga centres around a high school student who is outed at school and his journey to self acceptance. The art is nice and easy to follow but I felt it was a bit too dialogue heavy in parts. The concept is intriguing but I wasn't drawn in enough by the first volume to connect with any characters beyond Tasuku. The promise of found family is nice so if I can get my hands on other volumes I'd like to see where it goes.
☀️☀️☀️
This manga centres around a high school student who is outed at school and his journey to self acceptance. The art is nice and easy to follow but I felt it was a bit too dialogue heavy in parts. The concept is intriguing but I wasn't drawn in enough by the first volume to connect with any characters beyond Tasuku. The promise of found family is nice so if I can get my hands on other volumes I'd like to see where it goes.
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
☀️☀️
A queer, rambly tale that is more character study than story, but without any likeable characters, the journey isn't rewarding or overly insightful.
With a concept that is intriguing but staggeringly unrealistic in execution, we're presented with the possibility of a three parent relationship to help raise an unexpected child. That solution is laughable from the start when you've gotten to know the characters, and it only gets stranger from there. And when the plot drops off at the end...why bother delving into the depths of gender exploration without finishing off the arc?
The three main characters are all presented as different degrees of unlikeable. None are meant to be paragons of womanhood or transness. But despite knowing that I simply couldn't find reasons to root for any of them, even in a dark, ironic way.
The fetishisation of male violence and the easy acceptance of cheating were where this novel totally fell apart for me. Those lifestyles and kinks do exist, but within the context of this story they felt like deeply inappropriate customs to apply to cis-centric womanhood. And the repetitive glaring takes on gender certainly didn't help either - willing to get their hands dirty is not an inherently masculine trait, but okay...and just because a woman doesn't want kids doesn't mean she should have a hysterectomy! Yes, bad characters think bad things, but in a book purporting to represent the scope of gender expression, these takes are antiquated and ill informed.
I see what Peters is going for, and the process of reading itself wasn't a chore, but reaching the end left me wanting anything but this morose portrayal of queerness.
"These rich trans bitches. These fucking assholes who transition with hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to protect them from ever hearing someone say "tranny" to them on the street, so that one day, they can write tranny on the streets themselves, and congratulate themselves on being so punk."
☀️☀️
A queer, rambly tale that is more character study than story, but without any likeable characters, the journey isn't rewarding or overly insightful.
With a concept that is intriguing but staggeringly unrealistic in execution, we're presented with the possibility of a three parent relationship to help raise an unexpected child. That solution is laughable from the start when you've gotten to know the characters, and it only gets stranger from there. And when the plot drops off at the end...why bother delving into the depths of gender exploration without finishing off the arc?
The three main characters are all presented as different degrees of unlikeable. None are meant to be paragons of womanhood or transness. But despite knowing that I simply couldn't find reasons to root for any of them, even in a dark, ironic way.
The fetishisation of male violence and the easy acceptance of cheating were where this novel totally fell apart for me. Those lifestyles and kinks do exist, but within the context of this story they felt like deeply inappropriate customs to apply to cis-centric womanhood. And the repetitive glaring takes on gender certainly didn't help either - willing to get their hands dirty is not an inherently masculine trait, but okay...and just because a woman doesn't want kids doesn't mean she should have a hysterectomy! Yes, bad characters think bad things, but in a book purporting to represent the scope of gender expression, these takes are antiquated and ill informed.
I see what Peters is going for, and the process of reading itself wasn't a chore, but reaching the end left me wanting anything but this morose portrayal of queerness.
"These rich trans bitches. These fucking assholes who transition with hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to protect them from ever hearing someone say "tranny" to them on the street, so that one day, they can write tranny on the streets themselves, and congratulate themselves on being so punk."
Witch Hat Atelier, Volume 3 by Kamome Shirahama
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Witch Hat Atelier volumes 1-3 by Kamome Shirahama, translation by Stephen Kohler
☀️☀️☀️☀️⛅
The first three volumes in this series of YA graphic novels set a whimsical, mysterious and wholesome tone that is reminiscent of my favourite Studio Ghibli films.
I first have to address the art itself, which is probably some of the most beautiful I've ever seen. The style is detailed and versatile and simply gorgeous to look at. Given that magic in this world is a visual/art-based system, the talent of the artist cannot be understated when it comes to the success of these graphic novels.
The storyline is simple and fairly straightforward: a young girl discovers that the world's perception of magic is a lie, and now that she's in on the secret she will train to be a witch in the hopes of saving her mother. What elevates the concept is the skillful way darker possibilities are hinted at throughout, keeping you intrigued in the long form plot, as well as the 'adventure of the week' style catastrophes that add tension and provide good opportunities for character growth.
Coco is so earnest and enthusiastic that she is a joy to read about. Her fellow apprentices and her teacher provide legitimate sources of feeding information on the magic system and worldbuilding facts into the story succinctly. The mysterious bad guys are equal parts creepy and fascinating.
The cliffhanger endings for volumes 1 and 2 left me frustrated that my holds at the library weren't fast enough to keep up with my speed reading through these! I can't wait to keep going with this series when I have the next few volumes available.
☀️☀️☀️☀️⛅
The first three volumes in this series of YA graphic novels set a whimsical, mysterious and wholesome tone that is reminiscent of my favourite Studio Ghibli films.
I first have to address the art itself, which is probably some of the most beautiful I've ever seen. The style is detailed and versatile and simply gorgeous to look at. Given that magic in this world is a visual/art-based system, the talent of the artist cannot be understated when it comes to the success of these graphic novels.
The storyline is simple and fairly straightforward: a young girl discovers that the world's perception of magic is a lie, and now that she's in on the secret she will train to be a witch in the hopes of saving her mother. What elevates the concept is the skillful way darker possibilities are hinted at throughout, keeping you intrigued in the long form plot, as well as the 'adventure of the week' style catastrophes that add tension and provide good opportunities for character growth.
Coco is so earnest and enthusiastic that she is a joy to read about. Her fellow apprentices and her teacher provide legitimate sources of feeding information on the magic system and worldbuilding facts into the story succinctly. The mysterious bad guys are equal parts creepy and fascinating.
The cliffhanger endings for volumes 1 and 2 left me frustrated that my holds at the library weren't fast enough to keep up with my speed reading through these! I can't wait to keep going with this series when I have the next few volumes available.
"For when man has the power to do anything, then anything he will do."
Witch Hat Atelier, Volume 2 by Kamome Shirahama
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Witch Hat Atelier volumes 1-3 by Kamome Shirahama, translation by Stephen Kohler
☀️☀️☀️☀️⛅
The first three volumes in this series of YA graphic novels set a whimsical, mysterious and wholesome tone that is reminiscent of my favourite Studio Ghibli films.
I first have to address the art itself, which is probably some of the most beautiful I've ever seen. The style is detailed and versatile and simply gorgeous to look at. Given that magic in this world is a visual/art-based system, the talent of the artist cannot be understated when it comes to the success of these graphic novels.
The storyline is simple and fairly straightforward: a young girl discovers that the world's perception of magic is a lie, and now that she's in on the secret she will train to be a witch in the hopes of saving her mother. What elevates the concept is the skillful way darker possibilities are hinted at throughout, keeping you intrigued in the long form plot, as well as the 'adventure of the week' style catastrophes that add tension and provide good opportunities for character growth.
Coco is so earnest and enthusiastic that she is a joy to read about. Her fellow apprentices and her teacher provide legitimate sources of feeding information on the magic system and worldbuilding facts into the story succinctly. The mysterious bad guys are equal parts creepy and fascinating.
The cliffhanger endings for volumes 1 and 2 left me frustrated that my holds at the library weren't fast enough to keep up with my speed reading through these! I can't wait to keep going with this series when I have the next few volumes available.
☀️☀️☀️☀️⛅
The first three volumes in this series of YA graphic novels set a whimsical, mysterious and wholesome tone that is reminiscent of my favourite Studio Ghibli films.
I first have to address the art itself, which is probably some of the most beautiful I've ever seen. The style is detailed and versatile and simply gorgeous to look at. Given that magic in this world is a visual/art-based system, the talent of the artist cannot be understated when it comes to the success of these graphic novels.
The storyline is simple and fairly straightforward: a young girl discovers that the world's perception of magic is a lie, and now that she's in on the secret she will train to be a witch in the hopes of saving her mother. What elevates the concept is the skillful way darker possibilities are hinted at throughout, keeping you intrigued in the long form plot, as well as the 'adventure of the week' style catastrophes that add tension and provide good opportunities for character growth.
Coco is so earnest and enthusiastic that she is a joy to read about. Her fellow apprentices and her teacher provide legitimate sources of feeding information on the magic system and worldbuilding facts into the story succinctly. The mysterious bad guys are equal parts creepy and fascinating.
The cliffhanger endings for volumes 1 and 2 left me frustrated that my holds at the library weren't fast enough to keep up with my speed reading through these! I can't wait to keep going with this series when I have the next few volumes available.
"For when man has the power to do anything, then anything he will do."
Witch Hat Atelier, Volume 1 by Kamome Shirahama
adventurous
dark
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Witch Hat Atelier volumes 1-3 by Kamome Shirahama, translation by Stephen Kohler
☀️☀️☀️☀️⛅
The first three volumes in this series of YA graphic novels set a whimsical, mysterious and wholesome tone that is reminiscent of my favourite Studio Ghibli films.
I first have to address the art itself, which is probably some of the most beautiful I've ever seen. The style is detailed and versatile and simply gorgeous to look at. Given that magic in this world is a visual/art-based system, the talent of the artist cannot be understated when it comes to the success of these graphic novels.
The storyline is simple and fairly straightforward: a young girl discovers that the world's perception of magic is a lie, and now that she's in on the secret she will train to be a witch in the hopes of saving her mother. What elevates the concept is the skillful way darker possibilities are hinted at throughout, keeping you intrigued in the long form plot, as well as the 'adventure of the week' style catastrophes that add tension and provide good opportunities for character growth.
Coco is so earnest and enthusiastic that she is a joy to read about. Her fellow apprentices and her teacher provide legitimate sources of feeding information on the magic system and worldbuilding facts into the story succinctly. The mysterious bad guys are equal parts creepy and fascinating.
The cliffhanger endings for volumes 1 and 2 left me frustrated that my holds at the library weren't fast enough to keep up with my speed reading through these! I can't wait to keep going with this series when I have the next few volumes available.
☀️☀️☀️☀️⛅
The first three volumes in this series of YA graphic novels set a whimsical, mysterious and wholesome tone that is reminiscent of my favourite Studio Ghibli films.
I first have to address the art itself, which is probably some of the most beautiful I've ever seen. The style is detailed and versatile and simply gorgeous to look at. Given that magic in this world is a visual/art-based system, the talent of the artist cannot be understated when it comes to the success of these graphic novels.
The storyline is simple and fairly straightforward: a young girl discovers that the world's perception of magic is a lie, and now that she's in on the secret she will train to be a witch in the hopes of saving her mother. What elevates the concept is the skillful way darker possibilities are hinted at throughout, keeping you intrigued in the long form plot, as well as the 'adventure of the week' style catastrophes that add tension and provide good opportunities for character growth.
Coco is so earnest and enthusiastic that she is a joy to read about. Her fellow apprentices and her teacher provide legitimate sources of feeding information on the magic system and worldbuilding facts into the story succinctly. The mysterious bad guys are equal parts creepy and fascinating.
The cliffhanger endings for volumes 1 and 2 left me frustrated that my holds at the library weren't fast enough to keep up with my speed reading through these! I can't wait to keep going with this series when I have the next few volumes available.
"For when man has the power to do anything, then anything he will do."
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (audiobook narrated by Jennette McCurdy)
☀️☀️☀️☀️⛅
A heartbreaking account of growing up in an abusive relationship with a parent, this memoir made me glad her mum died too.
The matter-of-fact way McCurdy describes her abuse, starting from her youngest memories, is a difficult but necessary style choice for a story this candid. She pulls no punches when it comes to details of being taught an eating disorder, still being showered by her mum as a teen and young adult, being forced into a career that induced anxiety and stress from age 6, dating much older men, and her struggles with alcoholism. The explicit nature of her anecdotes make this book potentially triggering for anyone suffering from addiction and abuse, but I appreciate the details that she was willing to share which highlight just how impactful her mother's behaviour was to her entire life.
As a face of children's television for half of her life, McCurdy's memoir touches on the difficult and uncomfortable working environment she experienced at Nickelodeon, but it isn't quite as damning as it potentially could have been. It does acknowledge an offer of 300k 'hush money' though, which probably explains why it's taken so long for child stars to speak out about the dangerous working conditions there.
I loved the tone McCurdy writes with. It's distinctive and totally appropriate for the subject matter by being so cynical and bitter, but in doing so it also separates itself from most other memoirs.
This was an incredibly difficult read, but well worth it for how impactful and poignant her life experiences are.
☀️☀️☀️☀️⛅
A heartbreaking account of growing up in an abusive relationship with a parent, this memoir made me glad her mum died too.
The matter-of-fact way McCurdy describes her abuse, starting from her youngest memories, is a difficult but necessary style choice for a story this candid. She pulls no punches when it comes to details of being taught an eating disorder, still being showered by her mum as a teen and young adult, being forced into a career that induced anxiety and stress from age 6, dating much older men, and her struggles with alcoholism. The explicit nature of her anecdotes make this book potentially triggering for anyone suffering from addiction and abuse, but I appreciate the details that she was willing to share which highlight just how impactful her mother's behaviour was to her entire life.
As a face of children's television for half of her life, McCurdy's memoir touches on the difficult and uncomfortable working environment she experienced at Nickelodeon, but it isn't quite as damning as it potentially could have been. It does acknowledge an offer of 300k 'hush money' though, which probably explains why it's taken so long for child stars to speak out about the dangerous working conditions there.
I loved the tone McCurdy writes with. It's distinctive and totally appropriate for the subject matter by being so cynical and bitter, but in doing so it also separates itself from most other memoirs.
This was an incredibly difficult read, but well worth it for how impactful and poignant her life experiences are.
"I'm becoming an angry person with no tolerance for anyone. I'm aware of this shift and yet have no desire to change it. If anything, I want it. It's armor. It's easier to be angry than to feel to pain underneath it."
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
☀️☀️☀️⛅
This gothic suspense novel employed every trope imaginable to keep the mystery going, wringing out every last drop of tension.
The premise of this book was strong and very promising - a reclusive author, many possible lives lived, with the weight of her real story placed on the shoulders of a would-be biographer. I was drawn into the world early on and was eager to get into the details, but I found the second act a bit too drawn out, lagging at times when I should have been more engaged with the unfolding mystery. I think perhaps there were a few too many red herrings thrown about, and the timeline a bit long, for my tastes. In particular, the addition of a minor character's diary was totally superfluous, given that its contents were almost entirely known to us already and didn't aid Margaret in her quest enough to warrant the additional pages. The major mystery had a satisfying solution within the third act, as did the storyline for Aurelius, though I must admit I found the summary and postscript a bit too neat in their conclusions - my favourite part of this entire book is the single question that got left unanswered, so more of that would actually have been appreciated.
And now to contradict myself: the emphasis on mythical and ghostly presences was a powerful metaphor and definitely appropriate for this tale, but I felt that certain scenes leaned too far into the possibility of supernatural intervention without confirming anything. Those moments of illness/hysteria/?? did let me down as far as red herrings go, because it opened up a can of proverbial worms that proved not to be within the scope of the story itself.
Margaret as a character is weakly drawn in comparison to Miss Winter who was, understandably, the drawcard of this story. Margaret's preoccupation with her deceased sibling was necessary but too heavy handed and repetitive; I felt the same of the obvious literary comparisons Setterfield drew with Jane Eyre and the Bronte sisters.
Overall I would say I enjoyed the unfolding story, but its execution lacked subtlety and lagged at points so that I wasn't always totally engrossed.
☀️☀️☀️⛅
This gothic suspense novel employed every trope imaginable to keep the mystery going, wringing out every last drop of tension.
The premise of this book was strong and very promising - a reclusive author, many possible lives lived, with the weight of her real story placed on the shoulders of a would-be biographer. I was drawn into the world early on and was eager to get into the details, but I found the second act a bit too drawn out, lagging at times when I should have been more engaged with the unfolding mystery. I think perhaps there were a few too many red herrings thrown about, and the timeline a bit long, for my tastes. In particular, the addition of a minor character's diary was totally superfluous, given that its contents were almost entirely known to us already and didn't aid Margaret in her quest enough to warrant the additional pages. The major mystery had a satisfying solution within the third act, as did the storyline for Aurelius, though I must admit I found the summary and postscript a bit too neat in their conclusions - my favourite part of this entire book is the single question that got left unanswered, so more of that would actually have been appreciated.
And now to contradict myself: the emphasis on mythical and ghostly presences was a powerful metaphor and definitely appropriate for this tale, but I felt that certain scenes leaned too far into the possibility of supernatural intervention without confirming anything. Those moments of illness/hysteria/?? did let me down as far as red herrings go, because it opened up a can of proverbial worms that proved not to be within the scope of the story itself.
Margaret as a character is weakly drawn in comparison to Miss Winter who was, understandably, the drawcard of this story. Margaret's preoccupation with her deceased sibling was necessary but too heavy handed and repetitive; I felt the same of the obvious literary comparisons Setterfield drew with Jane Eyre and the Bronte sisters.
Overall I would say I enjoyed the unfolding story, but its execution lacked subtlety and lagged at points so that I wasn't always totally engrossed.
'My gripe is not with lovers of the truth but with truth herself. What succour, what consolation is there in truth, compared to a story?[...] When fear and cold make a statue of you in your bed, don't expect hard-boned and fleshless truth to come running to your aid. What you need are the plump comforts of a story. The soothing, rocking safety of a lie.'
'"I know," he said, "I know."
He didn't know, of course. Not really. And yet that was what he said and I was soothed to hear it. For I knew what he meant. We all have our sorrows, and although the exact delineaments, the weight and the dimension of grief are different for everyone, the colour of grief is common to us all. "I know," he said, because he was human, and therefore, in a way, he did.'