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What Members Thought
this review is for the audiobook.
i previously read and reviewed the print edition -- 5 star rating and a story that stuck with me for a long time. i just adored everything about this novel.
my rating for the audiobook is lower -- the story was still enjoyable and juliet stevenson does an okay job with it, though some of the different characters' voices were odd. but the sense of wonder and awe and the lush feeling the written story evoked did not come through in audio. so, i am glad i had already ...more
i previously read and reviewed the print edition -- 5 star rating and a story that stuck with me for a long time. i just adored everything about this novel.
my rating for the audiobook is lower -- the story was still enjoyable and juliet stevenson does an okay job with it, though some of the different characters' voices were odd. but the sense of wonder and awe and the lush feeling the written story evoked did not come through in audio. so, i am glad i had already ...more
still a great story, even on the third reading. this time, for an in-person book club i've been trying out the past couple of weeks (they meet weekly). it was nice to dig into the story a bit further, and hear the thoughts and feelings of others. overall, it was really liked by the group and a pretty cool conversation about altruism happened.
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I mostly loved this, this saga of Alma Whittaker: 19th-century botanist, dutiful daughter, strong-willed scholar, born arguer, lifelong seeker of answers. It's a sprawling story, curving back in on itself at times and leaving tendrils of mysteries untucked at other times, and the pace and tension meander but always seemed to suit the story well. It's a love song for science, but in a way that does--by the ending, at least--destabilize the common assumption that science and religion are doing inc
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Tournament of Books
I enjoyed this book more than I expected. I still found Gilbert's writing lacking a spark to truly make the characters come to life for me. But there were some very detailed descriptions of various botanicals and I do enjoy reading about various ways people made their fortunes. ...more
I enjoyed this book more than I expected. I still found Gilbert's writing lacking a spark to truly make the characters come to life for me. But there were some very detailed descriptions of various botanicals and I do enjoy reading about various ways people made their fortunes. ...more
A beautifully written and absorbing story.
Oct 27, 2013
Bucket
marked it as to-read
Dec 03, 2013
Jen
marked it as to-read
Dec 08, 2013
Sally
marked it as to-read
Dec 15, 2013
Dave
marked it as to-read
Dec 20, 2013
Bonnie B
marked it as to-read
Apr 04, 2014
Susan
marked it as to-read
Jul 19, 2014
Hilary
marked it as to-read
Nov 18, 2014
Chinook
marked it as to-read
Jan 01, 2015
Linda
marked it as to-read
Jan 21, 2015
Tobey
marked it as to-read
Jan 22, 2015
Saroopkishan
marked it as to-read
Nov 16, 2015
Jan Ballard
marked it as to-read
Nov 30, 2023
Stephanie
marked it as to-read
Sep 05, 2024
Janie
marked it as looking-to-read
