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armage's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
timinbc's review
5.0
4.5, rounded up because of the beautiful language.
Warning: there's some NASTY violence at the start and the end. But in the end it was necessary, I think. Partly to establish that the Bad Person was like that, and partly because it supports a feeling that builds up throughout -- that this is a village where that's just the way life is, sometimes nasty, solitary, brutish and short.
Likewise Orla's biographical details. Would they let that happen to someone? Yep. They'd make SURE it happened.
This is an Irish Cold Comfort Farm, except in a nicer physical setting. There's a similar dark British humour with a touch of the Irish in it. There are petty, mean people (plenty of them) but also a few who have a more modern view of what's right.
There are things throughout that can be called magic realism, I hate magic realism the way Lou Grant hated "spunk" in the Mary Tyler Moore show, the way Elmer Fudd hates wabbits. But here, it didn't bother me. Ghosts and flying books and sentient soot don't seem as weird as, say, having bridges walk and talk.
Mrs. Cauley's good, and Bridget Doosey deserves her own book. I'd never bet against her team.
Canadians will understand when I say that whenever I read Father Quinn I pictured Jason Kenney (premier of Alberta, for non-Canadians).
I particularly liked the wide range of personalities, and how they all fitted together to make a village.
But most of all, I liked the many you-have-to-read-it-aloud passages. I want to hear them read by Dylan Thomas or an Irish Sam Elliott.
Warning: there's some NASTY violence at the start and the end. But in the end it was necessary, I think. Partly to establish that the Bad Person was like that, and partly because it supports a feeling that builds up throughout -- that this is a village where that's just the way life is, sometimes nasty, solitary, brutish and short.
Likewise Orla's biographical details. Would they let that happen to someone? Yep. They'd make SURE it happened.
This is an Irish Cold Comfort Farm, except in a nicer physical setting. There's a similar dark British humour with a touch of the Irish in it. There are petty, mean people (plenty of them) but also a few who have a more modern view of what's right.
There are things throughout that can be called magic realism, I hate magic realism the way Lou Grant hated "spunk" in the Mary Tyler Moore show, the way Elmer Fudd hates wabbits. But here, it didn't bother me. Ghosts and flying books and sentient soot don't seem as weird as, say, having bridges walk and talk.
Mrs. Cauley's good, and Bridget Doosey deserves her own book. I'd never bet against her team.
Canadians will understand when I say that whenever I read Father Quinn I pictured Jason Kenney (premier of Alberta, for non-Canadians).
I particularly liked the wide range of personalities, and how they all fitted together to make a village.
But most of all, I liked the many you-have-to-read-it-aloud passages. I want to hear them read by Dylan Thomas or an Irish Sam Elliott.
pchopd's review
4.0
What a writer! Jess Kid writes in such a lavish way - I found myself reading her rich descriptions over and over. While the plot and characters were quite fun to follow throughout the storyline, I got so wrapped up in it and ended up bit disappointed in the ending. However, I would absolutely recommend this book, and I look forward to more of her work!
walla293's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
silvia_gio's review against another edition
3.0
Tre stelle. Solo tre stelle, quando contro ogni recensione, parere o commento avrei davvero desiderato potergliene elargire 4 ( o addirittura 5!)Questo libro mi è piaciuto, ma non quanto avrei desiderato all'inizio.
Ottime le sue premesse così come la prima parte, avrebbe forse potuto eguagliare Gaiman o Mercedes Lackley, con la sua Pretty Little Dead Girl..ma i toni irriverenti e spiritosi scivolano tristemente in un farsesco che alla lunga infastidisce il lettore ed impoverisce la lettura. Un'occasione mancata. Peccato.
Three stars. Only three stars, when against every review, opinion or comment I really wished I could give it 4 (or even 5!). I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I would have liked at first.
Its premises are excellent as well as the first part, it could perhaps have matched Gaiman or Mercedes Lackley, with his Pretty Little Dead Girl .. but the irreverent and witty tones sadly slip into a farcical that in the long run annoys the reader and impoverishes the reading. A missed opportunity, so sad.
Ottime le sue premesse così come la prima parte, avrebbe forse potuto eguagliare Gaiman o Mercedes Lackley, con la sua Pretty Little Dead Girl..ma i toni irriverenti e spiritosi scivolano tristemente in un farsesco che alla lunga infastidisce il lettore ed impoverisce la lettura. Un'occasione mancata. Peccato.
Three stars. Only three stars, when against every review, opinion or comment I really wished I could give it 4 (or even 5!). I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I would have liked at first.
Its premises are excellent as well as the first part, it could perhaps have matched Gaiman or Mercedes Lackley, with his Pretty Little Dead Girl .. but the irreverent and witty tones sadly slip into a farcical that in the long run annoys the reader and impoverishes the reading. A missed opportunity, so sad.
rrrinacore's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.0
... well, that was the weirdest murder mystery I ever read.
It was entertaining and tense, but I was very confused most of the time. Actually, I am confused still.
It was entertaining and tense, but I was very confused most of the time. Actually, I am confused still.