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ritaink13's review against another edition
5.0
I am not a book critic. I can only say that I loved this book. I became immersed in the story and the characters. I read Ingenious Pain before reading Pure. I look forward to reading all Andrew Miller's books.
hobhouchin's review against another edition
3.0
“Pure” left to my astonishment just a fleeting impression. The writing was great – some bumpy dialogues aside, which I’d like to blame the format (audiobook) for. It gets a bit unnerving when each sentence ends with “he said” or “she said”. – the images and sceneries very well written and the atmosphere rather catching, but still…
It didn’t “click”. As I wrote in a former review I always had my difficulties with audiobooks but since I gave them another try I found a method to listen to books and actually keep up with the story. I failed with “Pure”.
I found it difficult to follow all those little side stories and keep track of them and apparently (I read other reviews) I wasn’t the only one. Audiobook aside.
I’ll surely give it a second try and will pay better attention to the whole development.
Another big compliment to the narrator, Jonathan Aris, who read so brilliantly and I’d like to sign a petition that he has to read more books with French vocabulary in them. His sense for languages is drop down magnificent. Contrary to his reading for “The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet” he didn’t quite manage the distinction between each character he so skilfully used in “Jacob de Zoet”.
All in all a good but slightly disappointing “read”, but nevertheless surely worth a try.
It didn’t “click”. As I wrote in a former review I always had my difficulties with audiobooks but since I gave them another try I found a method to listen to books and actually keep up with the story. I failed with “Pure”.
I found it difficult to follow all those little side stories and keep track of them and apparently (I read other reviews) I wasn’t the only one. Audiobook aside.
I’ll surely give it a second try and will pay better attention to the whole development.
Another big compliment to the narrator, Jonathan Aris, who read so brilliantly and I’d like to sign a petition that he has to read more books with French vocabulary in them. His sense for languages is drop down magnificent. Contrary to his reading for “The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet” he didn’t quite manage the distinction between each character he so skilfully used in “Jacob de Zoet”.
All in all a good but slightly disappointing “read”, but nevertheless surely worth a try.
sonham's review against another edition
2.0
Charaktere, die sich nicht weiterentwickeln, ein zäher Handlungsverlauf, ein schnelles und zu simples Ende. Schade.
emmamolyneux's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
denishaskin's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this. But, after two Andrew Miller books, I now worry he can't--or won't--really finish a book. Both times (The Crossing and this one) end with some ambiguity. Oh well... will read another Miller to find out.
srbibliotecario's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book that took me a while to slog through, but when I finally did, I really liked its messages. Part of the trouble was that it felt like a translation -- it was definitely originally written in English, though -- because of some weirdness in the language (a flatness, maybe?). But overall, the story of how an engineer and his colleagues -- miners, an organist, a sexton, and others -- dismantles the cemetery of Les Innocents is oddly inspiring (and a little bit of a nail-biter).
stacialithub's review against another edition
4.0
"Pure" can be enjoyed as a piece of historical fiction, as well as as for its depths & layers concerning the many winds of change in pre-revolutionary France. Quite excellent & recommended, especially for fans of historical fiction.
edmundstavros's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
kazd's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I enjoyed this book, mainly for the historical aspects of Paris and the cemetery "les Innocents"
The tone is quite dark (obviously) - it feels like the entire year takes place under dark clouds with a touch of iciness and chill in the breeze. This is not a criticism - i love books that transport me to places and make me feel like i am there, can feel and smell the surroundings.
Would have liked more character development and exploration of how the story impacts on more of the characters' lives / feelings / emotions / sense of self. Its such a dramatic exercise (clearing out an ancient cemetery, in an ancient city, during the 1700s) but I didn't feel like the characters' views / feelings / something were explored in enough depth.
Lovers of historical fiction will get a lot of enjoyment from this one.
The tone is quite dark (obviously) - it feels like the entire year takes place under dark clouds with a touch of iciness and chill in the breeze. This is not a criticism - i love books that transport me to places and make me feel like i am there, can feel and smell the surroundings.
Would have liked more character development and exploration of how the story impacts on more of the characters' lives / feelings / emotions / sense of self. Its such a dramatic exercise (clearing out an ancient cemetery, in an ancient city, during the 1700s) but I didn't feel like the characters' views / feelings / something were explored in enough depth.
Lovers of historical fiction will get a lot of enjoyment from this one.