From the Bookshelf of Reading with Style…

Once Upon a River

Diane Setterfield

Start date: March 1, 2019

Finish date: May 31, 2019

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Feb 07, 2019 Jeannie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mind-blowing-writing-style

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield is a story of three little girls that disappeared and only one returned. Both the disappearances and the return are told by many different people with different takes on exactly what might have happened. Most of these stories take place in a hotel and tavern called, The Swan, that sits on the Thames river. This book blew me away in an academic sense. Her writing is flawless. The book has a large cast of characters but they are so well rounded that you feel ...more

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Mar 20, 2019 Erin rated it liked it

I may still be digesting this but, it feels like I quite liked it but didn't love it. I loved the lyrical prose, I loved the magical realism, I loved the setting.

I think I had a hard time connecting with the full (very full) cast of characters. And, all the loss of children is not a theme I will ever enjoy, even as a onward-pushing plot point. So, 3 or perhaps 3.5 stars, it is. ...more

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Feb 14, 2019 Anika rated it it was amazing

Shelves: for-carol

There is nothing I love as much as a finely crafted tale and Setterfield is one gifted storyteller. This is truly a fairy tale for adults--glorious! I didn't want to finish because I so much enjoyed the characters, yet I was so excited to finish to see where this "river" would lead. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Juliet Stevenson (who can create entire worlds with her voice!), but am about to go pick up the hardback from the library so I can enjoy it all over again. I can't wait to get ...more

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