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funktious's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
5.0
I don't normally enjoy anthropomorphism or mysticism in my reading, so I was surprised at how much I liked this. The descriptions of the wildlife and seasons on Dartmoor are beautiful but it's all undercut by a strong theme of PTSD and the damage done to a generation of British men by two successive wars, with a sprinkling of class antagonism as well. And it's very even handed - despite the obvious awfulness of Scoble, you also have to admit that he has a very close relationship with and deep understanding of his environment; "Church is just another house. There's more of God in my garden than you'll find in Buckfast Abbey or Exeter Cathedral." The final chapters, in the famous winter of 1947, are riveting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and War
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