Reviews

Branwell: A Novel of the Brontë Brother by Darcey Steinke, Douglas A. Martin

laurenmckane's review against another edition

The prose itself suffers at the hands of the writing style, which is fragmented and repetitive and renders the reading experience frustrating. 

Add to this that I’ve seen reviews make reference to the wholly inventive  - and utterly  distasteful - speculative nature of the narrative and I’m dissuaded from continuing.

jenstef's review against another edition

dark emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

An okay book. It has its flaws. Maybe it's just me not comprehending but there were more  than a few times where the prose was confusing. Timelines on deaths were jumpy at times in that a character is said to have died months to years later but would still be mentioned as living in the next paragraph. 

I suppose this is another book in which I loved the promise of the premise more than I did the actual book.

sunwords's review against another edition

3.0

This is a deeply perplexing book. On one hand I found myself engrossed by the spiraling decline of Branwell and his constant self-assurances regarding his abilities. On the other I needed to take breaks during some very unsettling plot moments.

I enjoyed the prose, but sometimes it became needlessly dense. The Charlotte moments were frustrating, her ownership over her sisters cruel.