Reviews

The Dancing Face by Mike Phillips

chattie_the_mad_chatter's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I am not a huge Thriller reader so was great to read. Lots of things I was not expecting. I was fascinated about how art was explored along with identity in this work and how we have different prejudice. I sadly did not connect to the characters which us always what aids my enjoyment. But recommend to people who love a Thriller and the themes above.

flophillips31's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

laurarosessupposes's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Starting with the positives, I found the plot to be compelling and fast paced with lots of interesting developments which made sense within the narrative. I also found the descriptions of the sought after mask in the story to be wonderfully written, giving the object an air of supernatural mystery to it; it appeared almost alive in a simultaneously enchanting and sinister way.

As for the negatives, I HATE the way the women in this novel are written. The constant over sexualisation is cringe inducing and infuriating to read. Additionally, I did not find a single character in this to be remotely likable or engaging. Good thing the plot is so interesting!
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rosielazar1's review

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

howellchantelle's review against another edition

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4.0

This was yet another shelterbox book club read. A book I definitely would not have found without the club! If I'm honest, just over a day ago I did not think I would finish this before the end of the year but the last 200 pages soon changed that

sarahmp's review against another edition

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informative mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Hm, quite liked the first half. Liked the unexpected shocking moment. Then it didn't really live up to its potential and was a bit disappointing. Struggled with the way the female characters were used, both in terms of the narrative and by the characters.

rworrall78's review

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adventurous emotional informative mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Very interesting on art, history and colonialism. The plot was ok, though because of my misgivings about the writing, particularly of the female characters, I didn't surrender wholly to it.  I could have done with less objectification of women, all that felt very late 90s..I kept thinking of the scene where
one of the female characters gets blackmailed into sex and effectively raped. It had shades of a similar scene in Americanah, although the coercion there is effected differently but the result is more or less the same. But how much better Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche writes it. How disgusted we feel by the man's behaviour. None of that important stuff here.

But an interesting read. The discussions about art and history are great and insightful. And the descriptions of Danny's childhood in care and feelings about that and his brother are tender and sad. 

cthornhill's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional informative tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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_claraisreading_'s review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

absolutive's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.0

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