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The Warlow Experiment

Alix Nathan

Start date: March 1, 2020

Finish date: May 31, 2020

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Mar 21, 2020 Connie G rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, england

Herbert Powys, a wealthy man from Herefordshire, is a loner interested only in books and horticulture. In 1793 he decides he wants to make his mark on science by conducting an experiment. He advertises for a man that is willing to live in solitary confinement in Powys' nicely furnished basement. The confined man will have a good supply of books and gourmet food, but he must grow his beard and nails during his seven year confinement. Powys has only one man answer his ad--John Warlow, a semi-liter ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Feb 06, 2020 Penny (Literary Hoarders) rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-read-in-2020, netgalley, from-windsor-public-library, review-copy-provided, ebook, library

Described by author Andrew Taylor as "both fascinating and infinitely strange", I completely agree! This was so strange, but I could not stop reading! The consequences for so many other than Warlow were significant and made for some compelling reading!

The ratings for The Warlow Experiment here on Goodreads are fairly low so I went in with low expectations, and thought it probably wouldn't work all that well for me, but it was simply not the truth. I really enjoyed this one! ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Sep 20, 2019 Ann rated it did not like it

Shelves: 2019, rws-fall-19

I saw this on some “best” list, and the blurbs made me expect something gothic, maybe a little creepy. Something perfect for the start of fall. At first this was interesting, but by the halfway point I felt like I was the one locked in a basement, going mad with boredom.
This book just does not work. It is repetitive and dull and while there are occasional sparks of interest, ultimately they are smothered by the glacial pace and lack of atmosphere.
The note at the end indicated that this started o ...more

3 likes · Like · see review