Reviews

Enlightenment by Sarah Perry

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nataliehoy61's review against another edition

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challenging reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Beautifully written

bookbound2019's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

zosia's review

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5.0

'Often it seems we stand still and lonely, absolutely solitary on the turning world. But all the same: we move.'⁣
⁣
With trepidation, at last, I got my hands on the new novel by Sarah Perry, one of my favourite living authors whose previous novel, Melmoth, was published in 2018. Now that I have finished it, I feel a sense of calm I wish I could explain to you! and can’t help but nod to myself – oh this book is so very Sarah Perry

rcsreads's review

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emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

alexrafinski's review

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hopeful informative sad slow-paced

4.75

I loved the writing style of this book - very lyrical prose. The downside of that of course is that the dialogues between characters don't really sound like anything people that I know would ever say. There are two main strands to the story, both with Thomas Hart as the main character. One revolves around his current life and his struggles to reconcile his faith (the local Baptist church features heavily in the book) with his sexuality, and the other covers his attempt to work out what happened to a lady who disappeared from a nearby large house nearly 100 years ago. The main thrust of this latter story is about the discovery of a comet, and chapters are interspersed with newspaper articles written by Thomas that are largely about comets and the universe in general - this might sound dry, but it actually works very well. The investigation into the disappearance does rely on a series of crazy coincidences that I initially didn't like, but then decided it was very deliberate - and a commentary on faith/pre-destination. There are great characters in this book, and I think this is even better than The Essex Serpent

wunkymatts's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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

5.0

I have waited months for this book and it did not disappoint. It is a glorious, touching tale of people coming together and falling apart and making plans and seeing things disintegrate and watching the stars and feeling the world beneath their feet.

Let's start with the writing. It's flawless. Perry's turn of phrase is incomparably beautiful. She can always find the perfect description. So many times I was stopped in my tracks by the aching truth of what she was saying. I could drowning her prose.

The characterisation was also excellent. People real and complex enough to surprise and disappoint you, but also flawed enough to love.

The sense of place takes you right to Essex, a county I have tenuous links to but has always fascinated. I have always been drawn to people who can write the places they love so well. It creates an experience like nothing else.

And the final thing I want to mention is religion. It is not an easy topic, and Perry never once pretends that it is. I think an easier way to I clude it in this story would be to show it as a darkness, a shadow in people's lives, but to be brave and to show it can also bring light while causing pain and to acknowledge that, actually, sometimes church is home whatever you might want to believe differently, that is truly wonderous.