Lynn’s answer to “I have been seeing such negative ratings for Tana French's newest standalone The Witch Elm...I am r…” > Likes and Comments
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I found parts of the ending unbelievable, but I understand why it happened that way.
Yes, many people have said they hated the narrator.
I don't have to like the narrator but I have to find the story interesting. This one wasn't for me.
I agree with Sabrina Martin. The author chose to drag us through the endless brain injury, the bevy of selfish cousins, the unlikely outcome of the physical struggle toward the end. So little of this book was even believable (except that there are many untrustworthy and selfish people), and so very many pages were used to make this obvious point, that I consider the time spent on this book simply time lost. What others are calling insightful character studies seemed to me to be superficial and static, without development. There were rare moments of good writing but far too rare for the time invested.
I loved that Toby was unlikable! Did I yell at him alone in my car? Yes! 75% of books have Toby's as the main character and we're supposed to root for him, fall in love with him, or sympathize with him. I loved that we were supposed to hate him! And that doesnt make the end any less tragic.
I agree with Joan- I invested too much time into this book to give up but I was VERY disappointed. I knew early on who committed the crime and was hoping I was wrong (I wasn't). Have read several other TF novels and really liked them so I won't be giving up on her.
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I found parts of the ending unbelievable, but I understand why it happened that way. Yes, many people have said they hated the narrator.
I don't have to like the narrator but I have to find the story interesting. This one wasn't for me.
I agree with Sabrina Martin. The author chose to drag us through the endless brain injury, the bevy of selfish cousins, the unlikely outcome of the physical struggle toward the end. So little of this book was even believable (except that there are many untrustworthy and selfish people), and so very many pages were used to make this obvious point, that I consider the time spent on this book simply time lost. What others are calling insightful character studies seemed to me to be superficial and static, without development. There were rare moments of good writing but far too rare for the time invested.
I loved that Toby was unlikable! Did I yell at him alone in my car? Yes! 75% of books have Toby's as the main character and we're supposed to root for him, fall in love with him, or sympathize with him. I loved that we were supposed to hate him! And that doesnt make the end any less tragic.
I agree with Joan- I invested too much time into this book to give up but I was VERY disappointed. I knew early on who committed the crime and was hoping I was wrong (I wasn't). Have read several other TF novels and really liked them so I won't be giving up on her.
I hated the ending.