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cathyirii's review
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-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
3.0
everyone in this book was so annoying it's ridiculous (stella my girl though)
robert_vardill's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gillopad's review against another edition
4.0
Really engaging story. I was compelled to read it very quickly. Hope to re-read as I'm sure I there is more to enjoy
lubleu's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Louise's family is left lost after she is imprisoned for three months for assaulting a policeman with a stolen shoe. Her husband, Mac, retreats into work; her eldest daughter, Stella, focuses on her schoolwork and starts cleaning excessively; her mother moves in with the intention of 'helping out', while her youngest daughter, Caris, feels stranded.
Caris finds she can't go to school, so wanders around the Vale, the one place she's always been told by her mother not to go, but she's not around now. There she meets George and his Tree of Shoes, and becomes wrapped up in his dark and gritty life.
The writing style in this book was the best element for me. It follows all of the characters smoothly, exploring their deep and honest feelings, regardless of if they're socially wrong. These include a parent thinking about how much they hate their child or that they view their spouse as just 'a heap of duvet in the bed'. They're not the opinions you want to hear, but their real.
There were other, very specific feelings that Darling gets spot on, like that of being a young teenager in an expensive shop; the way you are simultaneously ignored and followed around as the staff don't know what you're doing there but don't really care as long as they don't have to interact with you.
'Until Louise was arrested, Caris had never really thought about what she didn’t have, about the world outside her street and her school, and the fact that most of the things she owns cost less than nine ninety-nine. Now she feels invisible, as if she hardly exists, as if she is filling up the cracks between people.' p26
These observations brought a grounded, relatable tone to the story, that also highlighted the bleak nature of every character's life- they are invisible and no one around them cares or likes them.
It's bleak, but it feels deeply honest.
Caris finds she can't go to school, so wanders around the Vale, the one place she's always been told by her mother not to go, but she's not around now. There she meets George and his Tree of Shoes, and becomes wrapped up in his dark and gritty life.
The writing style in this book was the best element for me. It follows all of the characters smoothly, exploring their deep and honest feelings, regardless of if they're socially wrong. These include a parent thinking about how much they hate their child or that they view their spouse as just 'a heap of duvet in the bed'. They're not the opinions you want to hear, but their real.
There were other, very specific feelings that Darling gets spot on, like that of being a young teenager in an expensive shop; the way you are simultaneously ignored and followed around as the staff don't know what you're doing there but don't really care as long as they don't have to interact with you.
'Until Louise was arrested, Caris had never really thought about what she didn’t have, about the world outside her street and her school, and the fact that most of the things she owns cost less than nine ninety-nine. Now she feels invisible, as if she hardly exists, as if she is filling up the cracks between people.' p26
These observations brought a grounded, relatable tone to the story, that also highlighted the bleak nature of every character's life- they are invisible and no one around them cares or likes them.
It's bleak, but it feels deeply honest.
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