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joetatum24's review against another edition
4.0
Probably close to a 4.5. The language was often exquisite, and it’s worth a read just for some really spectacular passages. I was fully invested until the characters were asked to change their names. Though the author did a great job of mitigating the difficulty, once the names changed, I forgot who most of the characters were, which was a bummer. I’m proud of myself for finishing this giant novel!
jitcha's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
agamakota's review against another edition
4.0
Przeraża rozmiarem Ale napisana jest dość zgrabnie. Wszystko ładnie składa się w całość. Dla mnie były to dni naprawdę wielkiej podróży. Nie jest to jednak lektura dla każdego. Polecam tylko tym najbardziej wytrwałym.
jollysaintnick12's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lulu665's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wollstonecrafty's review against another edition
3.0
trying desperately to convince everyone that i DO like wide ranging historical novels and i am NOT anti intellectual i just didn't like this lol. supremely underwhelming
poischiche31's review against another edition
1.5
I love historical fiction and I often read big books, so what could go wrong? Lol. Began reading, and I only finished this absolute slog out of pride.
The writing reads like a verbose textbook. It’s not so much a novel as a fictionalized historical research report. The characters, of which there are far too many, are altogether poorly developed. What motivated Jacob? Who was he on the inside? 1000 pages later and I have no idea who Jacob, our titular character, really was. This goes for every character we meet.
The short chapters are sporadic, unfocused, monotonous. The conclusion reads like a genealogy report.
The illustrations, IMO, add nothing to the book. Sometimes they make no sense or seemingly have no connection to the text they’re placed next to. But every time I saw the dark outlines of a photograph shining through the next page, I rejoiced, for these photos reduced the number of words on a page.
To sum up the book: blah blah blah blah blah
The writing reads like a verbose textbook. It’s not so much a novel as a fictionalized historical research report. The characters, of which there are far too many, are altogether poorly developed. What motivated Jacob? Who was he on the inside? 1000 pages later and I have no idea who Jacob, our titular character, really was. This goes for every character we meet.
The short chapters are sporadic, unfocused, monotonous. The conclusion reads like a genealogy report.
The illustrations, IMO, add nothing to the book. Sometimes they make no sense or seemingly have no connection to the text they’re placed next to. But every time I saw the dark outlines of a photograph shining through the next page, I rejoiced, for these photos reduced the number of words on a page.
To sum up the book: blah blah blah blah blah
pierreikonnikov's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
laurjor's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.25