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teabooksandbreathe's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
heath_mocha's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition
3.0
A little dry at times, especially when it focused on the effects of the French revolution on business. Not to say it was uninteresting, just a bit ‘an accountant’s family history’. No disrespect to accountants.
Otherwise, when it went back to the dynamics between the siblings and how their lives had been altered by the new changes in rule, it did seem very real, and believable and those were the moments that kept me reading.
Otherwise, when it went back to the dynamics between the siblings and how their lives had been altered by the new changes in rule, it did seem very real, and believable and those were the moments that kept me reading.
mrsbrharris's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I enjoyed the different perspective of the French Revolution and the trade of glass blowing. I wished there was more of a "hero" figure in the novel. Understanding French would be useful too. I definitely didn't know what to expect so it was pretty refreshing in that regard. I liked her book Rebecca better, but this book was still a good read.
katealli's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
bfrance99's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Another great book from Daphne du Maurier - I’m yet to find one that isn’t good! Her writing style is just timeless, and the talent to convey complex subjects and emotions in such a succinct way is amazing. I love historical fiction, and the extent of my knowledge of the French Revolution begins and ends with Les Mis, so it was very interesting to read about. The unique community and world of glass-blowers was also fascinating. Sophie Duval was the narrator, but I wish we heard more about her life, rather than her brothers’ lives.
mariafernandagama's review against another edition
5.0
After I finished Rebecca, I went on a Daphne Du Maurier ebook downloading spree and went through them like wildfire, but this one remained unread for months in my Kindle library. I don't really understand why but I was prejudiced to it from the start. I had no idea what the story was about and having never heard it mentioned before, didn't really think there'd be much to it but man oh man was I wrong. This is definitely already one of my favorites by this genius, innovative, ahead of her time, cruelly underestimated author. And here comes a very unpopular opinion: this book, to me, is what a Tale of Two Cities sadly failed to be. Refocusing the horrors of civil war and the revolution from the burning streets of Paris to the quiet and intimate countryside felt like such a truer and more vivid picture of the times and of the consequences everybody had to face, regardless of their rank in social hierarchy. I love how everybody has good intentions but also a tendency to be brutal and evil within themselves, and how the barbarity is seen from different angles, at different times, leaving the reader rattled and certain that they could never truly grasp the bigger and infinitely more complex picture. I have been reading some very dense non fiction in which I am constantly highlighting paragraphs for further study, so while reading this I decided I wouldn't highlight a single sentence and just let the book flow naturally. But of course, I was fooling myself and I did highlight one part for its sheer absolute truth and all that it means for all of these violent acts we keep witnessing throughout history. It is after one character, thirsty from revenge after having seen a loved one whipped in the face, shoots at a random stranger in a mob of enemies and watches him fall. "He wasn't doing anything. If it could have been the one with the whip...", she says. "It never is. It's never the right man. That's why it's so useless" Isn't that just so beautiful and simple?
Well, there's a lot more to this book than French politics, the family drama and character studies for themselves would be enough to recommend it to anybody. But whatever the reason, I hope it's not left forgotten in anybody else's Kindle library anymore.
Well, there's a lot more to this book than French politics, the family drama and character studies for themselves would be enough to recommend it to anybody. But whatever the reason, I hope it's not left forgotten in anybody else's Kindle library anymore.
twicebaked's review against another edition
3.0
I love du Maurier's books, most of them are incredible. This one just didn't cut it for me, though, and I think that's a first.
Her other books are mostly suspenseful, creepy, dark, twisted, and this one had none of that - which might be why it wasn't that good. Set during the French Revolution, it centered around a middle-class family who is either well-off or just barely getting by, I could never quite tell which.
It jumps quickly through the years and never really pays much attention to the big names, other than bringing them up a couple times: Robespierre, Marat, Danton... they all get introduced and then drop out of the story until they're executed. I was surprised at how she passes over "big" history events and only mentions them in passing. The kind and queen being beheaded, the revolution leaders being beheaded, the guillotine being introduced as the new executing method, the "updated" calendar... these were only lightly mentioned, and I'm not sure if that made it seem more realistic (because would you write about politics or would you write about the troubles your family was going through?) or if it made it less realistic (because wouldn't you write about things that are startling and probably world-rocking, like the end of a monarchy?) but either way it was a bit on the bland side. It also delves into the more politic side of things, which might be part of why I found my attention wandering - it doesn't spoon-feed you for sure! However, I did find it relaxing to just let the political talk "run over" me, which sounds weird but really I just read it without thinking too much about it. I didn't take my time to try and decipher everything and still felt like I understood a lot of what was going on, so I don't think it's too hard to follow (but that may depend on the person reading).
Definitely there were parts that were scary, disturbing, sad, disgusting, all of that. And there are for sure interesting parts with her family and all the things that happen to them... but it's hard to feel sorry for any one of them when their characters are all pretty flat, 2D characters. Even the main character is a bit on the 2D side, she passes over so much that happens that it doesn't feel as rich, deep, or compelling as du Maurier's better-known books (Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, My Cousin Rachel, etc).
I was a bit disappointed with this one, however, on the flipside... it was intriguing to read about the French Revolution from the pov of a working class citizen, Sophie, who is surrounded by/related to revolutionary supporters and fanatics*. It's fascinating and refreshing to see the revolution from a sympathetic (or at least neutral) perspective - most of the books out there are written in defense of the aristocracy and while that's not bad (neither one is a bad pov, in my opinion), it's still nice to have a different look on things. It reminded me a bit of In Search of Honor, where they're all in favor of it, some even obsessively so, and how little by little they see the flaws and successes of the new system, as leaders rise and fall. Very different feel from The Scarlet Pimpernel, and while I love TSP, I also enjoy knowing what it was like for the everyday, "insignificant" French people.
If you'd like a drier, but interesting, historical book that has a biographical feel to it, I would 100% recommend this book. It's an excellent nighttime read if you're looking for something to relax with where you don't have to involve many of your brain cells but still want it to hold your interest. You don't have to think too much about it, but it's still a well-written book, unlike other books people like reading at bedtime (looking at you, YA).
ok I'm done. The end.
-
supporters: Robert and Francoise
fanatics: Michel and Edme
Her other books are mostly suspenseful, creepy, dark, twisted, and this one had none of that - which might be why it wasn't that good. Set during the French Revolution, it centered around a middle-class family who is either well-off or just barely getting by, I could never quite tell which.
It jumps quickly through the years and never really pays much attention to the big names, other than bringing them up a couple times: Robespierre, Marat, Danton... they all get introduced and then drop out of the story until they're executed. I was surprised at how she passes over "big" history events and only mentions them in passing. The kind and queen being beheaded, the revolution leaders being beheaded, the guillotine being introduced as the new executing method, the "updated" calendar... these were only lightly mentioned, and I'm not sure if that made it seem more realistic (because would you write about politics or would you write about the troubles your family was going through?) or if it made it less realistic (because wouldn't you write about things that are startling and probably world-rocking, like the end of a monarchy?) but either way it was a bit on the bland side. It also delves into the more politic side of things, which might be part of why I found my attention wandering - it doesn't spoon-feed you for sure! However, I did find it relaxing to just let the political talk "run over" me, which sounds weird but really I just read it without thinking too much about it. I didn't take my time to try and decipher everything and still felt like I understood a lot of what was going on, so I don't think it's too hard to follow (but that may depend on the person reading).
Definitely there were parts that were scary, disturbing, sad, disgusting, all of that. And there are for sure interesting parts with her family and all the things that happen to them... but it's hard to feel sorry for any one of them when their characters are all pretty flat, 2D characters. Even the main character is a bit on the 2D side, she passes over so much that happens that it doesn't feel as rich, deep, or compelling as du Maurier's better-known books (Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, My Cousin Rachel, etc).
I was a bit disappointed with this one, however, on the flipside... it was intriguing to read about the French Revolution from the pov of a working class citizen, Sophie, who is surrounded by/related to revolutionary supporters and fanatics*. It's fascinating and refreshing to see the revolution from a sympathetic (or at least neutral) perspective - most of the books out there are written in defense of the aristocracy and while that's not bad (neither one is a bad pov, in my opinion), it's still nice to have a different look on things. It reminded me a bit of In Search of Honor, where they're all in favor of it, some even obsessively so, and how little by little they see the flaws and successes of the new system, as leaders rise and fall. Very different feel from The Scarlet Pimpernel, and while I love TSP, I also enjoy knowing what it was like for the everyday, "insignificant" French people.
If you'd like a drier, but interesting, historical book that has a biographical feel to it, I would 100% recommend this book. It's an excellent nighttime read if you're looking for something to relax with where you don't have to involve many of your brain cells but still want it to hold your interest. You don't have to think too much about it, but it's still a well-written book, unlike other books people like reading at bedtime (looking at you, YA).
ok I'm done. The end.
-
supporters: Robert and Francoise
fanatics: Michel and Edme
a0aa's review against another edition
3.0
I can't believe I read a book about the French revolution and actually finished it AND even liked it.
The beginning was super boring but once the story and characters developed it was quite okay.
And even though I've now read a book about the French revolution, I could not tell you a single fact about the whole thing. What I learned though from my buddy Robert is that being opportunistic does get you through life. That's the second book in two weeks with an opportunistic asshole getting though life quite smoothly that I'm starting to question if I should change my style of life.
Yeah. Much to think about.
The beginning was super boring but once the story and characters developed it was quite okay.
And even though I've now read a book about the French revolution, I could not tell you a single fact about the whole thing. What I learned though from my buddy Robert is that being opportunistic does get you through life. That's the second book in two weeks with an opportunistic asshole getting though life quite smoothly that I'm starting to question if I should change my style of life.
Yeah. Much to think about.