Reviews

The Last Resort by Jan Carson

thebobsphere's review

4.0

 I'm a fan of interlinked short story collections. The Last Resort takes place on a caravan park and the individuals who live there. Each chapter focuses on a theme such as abuse and broken marriages. The stories are linked through objects being stolen, so the book doubles as an Agatha Christie style mystery.

It's fun and clever - it also is a good primer to Jan Carson and the themes and magical realist elements that are found in her books 

jwtaljaard's review

lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.5

pernille's review

3.0

3.5

overthefroggymoon's review

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sofiedesmyter83's review

dark emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

opal360's review

lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

I enjoyed these interlinked short stories set in Northern Ireland. Each story focuses on a different individual in the caravan park community, and their particular struggles and difficulties. Some themes are heavy but the writer handles them with grace and a sense of humour.

The way the book was structured and some of the personnel reminded me of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon. This book has a different setting and is much, much shorter, but if you liked that one you might enjoy this one too.

sui_marie's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

d_wnks's review

emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

claire60's review

5.0

Loved this so much, Jan Carson is one of my favourite authors, I really enjoy the blend of fantasy and reality in her work it is a very clever way to write about such an interesting place with a painful past as Northern Ireland. Her characters are amazing, well written, they come to life on the page, their use of the local dialect, their thoughts, I can easily picture them. Set in a caravan park near Bally castle this book is about the different characters who are spending the week off season in their caravans and each chapter focusses on a different person, reflecting the diversity and complexity of Northern Ireland today.

bookfeast101's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0