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cameliam's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Bullying, Addiction, Racism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Grief, Body shaming, Forced institutionalization, Animal death, Slavery, and Physical abuse
knightscottage's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Why oh why did I wait so long to revisit this book!! Read in high school many decades ago and watched the movie then forgot about it till last week.
I found myself easily lost in its pages. I could relate to a lot of Sybylla's inner thoughts. Her questioning everything. I feel she was a century ahead of her time. Her mind didn't fit into the era she was born into. It's remarkable really. What an inspiration.
She has a beautiful way of writing. It's as though I was right there with her. I loved her descriptions of Caddagat homestead and did some internet searching and found one old photo. Sadly that lovely old home was a part of the valley that was flooded to make way for snowy hydro scheme. They should have saved such a historically significant property. Makes me angry!
I look forward to reading all her other writing.
She and her mother didn't have a loving relationship. Her mother just didn't understand her. They were poles apart. Her mother unfairly singled her out as the family scapegoat. Her father was an alcoholic, drinking away what little money they had, leaving her family in poverty.
Makes me sad to see her childhood would have been better if she'd just received some love and affection. I think this lack thereof left her unable to receive the love of Mr Beecham. She didn't seem to know how to accept his love or what to do with it. The book ends rather abruptly, so I'm curious to read part two, 'My career goes bung'
My being a sensitive soul, I did find the treatment of animals to be the only real challenge in the book. Horses are whipped till they bleed and are overworked. Starving cows collapsed on the ground crying for food, being lifted up by wooden palings when too weak to stand on their own etc.. Animals are shown no respect or compassion.
*I found these brief passages distressing, and have therefore warned of minor animal abuse.*
I found it to be a fascinating look back at earlier times of my country.
I have just finished watching the movie (haven't seen it since high school) superb production and highly recommended.
This book has stayed with me. I will be re-reading. I keep imagining Caddagat, I'd love to live in that home or one just like it.
I found myself easily lost in its pages. I could relate to a lot of Sybylla's inner thoughts. Her questioning everything. I feel she was a century ahead of her time. Her mind didn't fit into the era she was born into. It's remarkable really. What an inspiration.
She has a beautiful way of writing. It's as though I was right there with her. I loved her descriptions of Caddagat homestead and did some internet searching and found one old photo. Sadly that lovely old home was a part of the valley that was flooded to make way for snowy hydro scheme. They should have saved such a historically significant property. Makes me angry!
I look forward to reading all her other writing.
She and her mother didn't have a loving relationship. Her mother just didn't understand her. They were poles apart. Her mother unfairly singled her out as the family scapegoat. Her father was an alcoholic, drinking away what little money they had, leaving her family in poverty.
Makes me sad to see her childhood would have been better if she'd just received some love and affection. I think this lack thereof left her unable to receive the love of Mr Beecham. She didn't seem to know how to accept his love or what to do with it. The book ends rather abruptly, so I'm curious to read part two, 'My career goes bung'
My being a sensitive soul, I did find the treatment of animals to be the only real challenge in the book. Horses are whipped till they bleed and are overworked. Starving cows collapsed on the ground crying for food, being lifted up by wooden palings when too weak to stand on their own etc.. Animals are shown no respect or compassion.
*I found these brief passages distressing, and have therefore warned of minor animal abuse.*
I found it to be a fascinating look back at earlier times of my country.
I have just finished watching the movie (haven't seen it since high school) superb production and highly recommended.
This book has stayed with me. I will be re-reading. I keep imagining Caddagat, I'd love to live in that home or one just like it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty
sneako's review
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Misogyny and Miscarriage
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