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What Members Thought
This book is hard to rate! I was completely seduced by the lyrical prose and the mystical, ethereal quality of the story itself. The characters were supremely well done, as was the depiction of the time and place of the novel. Yet there amidst the 'shiny' story, there is child sexual abuse, rape, drug addiction, etc. Strangely these did not detract from the ultimate beauty of the story.
I should give this book more stars for all the facets described above. What's holding me back? I'm not sure. I ...more
I should give this book more stars for all the facets described above. What's holding me back? I'm not sure. I ...more
I wrestled with choosing a rating for this one. It is beautifully written. Very vivid and unique writing, it often reminded me of the Night Circus (which I loved). This one is also frank and horrifying and raunchy... not a bit raunchy... a LOT raunchy. As I read it I wondered if it would have had it's same grip on me, if the graphic sexual scenes were watered down a bit... but ultimately I decided that they fit with the book... even if I didn't want to see it. I think this book is an amazing pie
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The clipped, objective style with repetitions, blunt declarations, multiple (semi-omniscient) povs within the one scene (successfully pulled off), whimsical turns of phrase, clever similes and general oddities was marvellous to read for the first 30-40% or so. But then it palled. For me, anyway. Perhaps this very self-conscious style is more suited to a novella than a full-length novel, and ultimately, it left me not very emotionally involved with the characters. The characters, too, are whimsic
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Simply stunning! Heather O'Neill's prose is like music, the rhythm a beautiful melody and the words form a gorgeous lyric. The story will haunt me for awhile. I can't wait to read her other books!
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3 1/2 stars. Captivating story but so character driven it didn't feel like historic fiction.
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Feb 12, 2017
Stacey
marked it as bailed
Mar 12, 2017
Frankie
marked it as to-read
Mar 13, 2017
Anna
marked it as to-read
Mar 23, 2017
Hazel
marked it as to-read
Jun 28, 2017
Rachel
marked it as nope
Aug 04, 2017
Sarah
marked it as wishlist
Aug 20, 2017
Jocelyn
marked it as to-read
Dec 31, 2017
Sam
marked it as to-read
Jan 05, 2018
MichelleCH
marked it as to-read
Jan 09, 2018
Deedee
marked it as to-read
May 02, 2018
Jules
marked it as to-read
May 04, 2018
Chris Hammer
added it
Sep 06, 2018
Ann
marked it as to-read
Aug 03, 2019
Soelo
marked it as to-read
Nov 04, 2022
Johanne
marked it as to-read
