Scan barcode
ineslts's review against another edition
2.0
Personally? I felt like I spent the book waiting for "something more". I enjoyed the last chapters more than I enjoyed the remainder of the book but it was still not the book for me. Still, I have a friend that I'm sure will like it and I can't wait to talk to her about it!
This book wasn't for me, but hey, maybe it's for you! Listen...
This book wasn't for me, but hey, maybe it's for you! Listen...
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
It's very sad. But due to the new tax rules when importing from outside the EU the June Book Box Club will very likely be my last. I will really miss this box forcing me to read out of my comfort zone and most of all letting me discover books I never would have found on my own. I will also miss the Author chats, all so different and unique but always adding something new to the story. And this book, a book I never would have found and never would have picked up, is really why I'm gonna miss it all.
I totally understand this book isn't for everyone. Barter has a typical writing style that reminds a little of the classics. However, I read a lot of different writing styles so it didn't take long for me to get used to it and to start enjoying this story. Because the story was quite intriguing, from the very start, and I was quite curious how it eventually would end. Especially because there were a lot of possible endings. (Unless you knew the real story already, then you know how it ends, I guess!)
My favorite thing about this book is quite clearly the atmosphere. There were quite a few moments in this book being really creepy. Especially because our narrator, Maggie, didn't know anymore what was real and what wasn't. Eventually the book does reveal what has been really going on all the time, which I personally liked and hated at the same time, but for quite some time the biggest mystery was whether or not it was all fake or whether or not there were real things happening too.
And it's exactly that uncertainty that makes Maggie's journey quite an emotional one. She knows that if she wants to convince people that what she has seen and experienced is real, she will have to make sure others hear and see it too. But once they start faking things, her inner struggle only grows worse and worse. Which is also partly fueled by all the things going on in society at this point in history concerning slavery, human rights and women rights.
I understand why the story told like this doesn't work for everyone, but I do think it contains a great message and some really touching moments!
I totally understand this book isn't for everyone. Barter has a typical writing style that reminds a little of the classics. However, I read a lot of different writing styles so it didn't take long for me to get used to it and to start enjoying this story. Because the story was quite intriguing, from the very start, and I was quite curious how it eventually would end. Especially because there were a lot of possible endings. (Unless you knew the real story already, then you know how it ends, I guess!)
My favorite thing about this book is quite clearly the atmosphere. There were quite a few moments in this book being really creepy. Especially because our narrator, Maggie, didn't know anymore what was real and what wasn't. Eventually the book does reveal what has been really going on all the time, which I personally liked and hated at the same time, but for quite some time the biggest mystery was whether or not it was all fake or whether or not there were real things happening too.
And it's exactly that uncertainty that makes Maggie's journey quite an emotional one. She knows that if she wants to convince people that what she has seen and experienced is real, she will have to make sure others hear and see it too. But once they start faking things, her inner struggle only grows worse and worse. Which is also partly fueled by all the things going on in society at this point in history concerning slavery, human rights and women rights.
I understand why the story told like this doesn't work for everyone, but I do think it contains a great message and some really touching moments!
caffeineaddict980's review against another edition
5.0
We Played With Fire is a novel based around the true story of the Fox sisters. Maggie has seen things that other people would view as impossible but nobody believes that they are true, but because of this Maggie and Kate's family have taken them away to spend the winter in a remote farmhouse.
The sisters begin to play tricks around the house, finding it all a bit of fun and wanting to wind their parents up, but soon the house begins to take on a form of it's own - making strange sounds and strange occurrences begin to happen...
This novel was fast-paced and seems like it will be full of stereotypical tropes at the beginning, but soon takes on a form of it's own. The story was also based on real historical events, full of paranormal and spiritual themes and strong female leads that dominated the pages!
The sisters begin to play tricks around the house, finding it all a bit of fun and wanting to wind their parents up, but soon the house begins to take on a form of it's own - making strange sounds and strange occurrences begin to happen...
This novel was fast-paced and seems like it will be full of stereotypical tropes at the beginning, but soon takes on a form of it's own. The story was also based on real historical events, full of paranormal and spiritual themes and strong female leads that dominated the pages!
that_bookworm_guy's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
An enjoyable story, but left me wanting more.
I can't explain it, but for me I feel like there was something missing to make this a higher rating.
I did like the characters (based off of real people) and I did like the story but for me there was just a spark of something missing
I can't explain it, but for me I feel like there was something missing to make this a higher rating.
I did like the characters (based off of real people) and I did like the story but for me there was just a spark of something missing
keetzwitch's review against another edition
2.0
I was excited to read this thinking it was going to be quite dark and a bit spooky,it fell a bit flat for me,every time something started to happen it felt like it was then just dropped and swept aside
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Rounded up from 2.5 stars.
The depiction of the world the sisters inhabit is very well drawn, but the people in that world are less clear. Obviously they're based on real people and real events, so perhaps the author felt constrained by that? Possibly because we only get Maggie's POV, her sisters and family are only seen as she would see them, not as they really might be; this has the effect of making them more two- than three-dimensional. Clearly set in the time and referencing abolition and the women's movement (and Seneca Falls), the people of Hydesville are slowly entering a more modern era and yet the Fox sisters throw them: can the knockings and other noises be real?
The author doesn't completely answer the question, leaving it open to the reader. Obviously there is some element of artifice here (Maggie and Kate's way of messing with their strict father) but might there also be something from the Other Side reaching out?
ARC provided by publisher.
The depiction of the world the sisters inhabit is very well drawn, but the people in that world are less clear. Obviously they're based on real people and real events, so perhaps the author felt constrained by that? Possibly because we only get Maggie's POV, her sisters and family are only seen as she would see them, not as they really might be; this has the effect of making them more two- than three-dimensional. Clearly set in the time and referencing abolition and the women's movement (and Seneca Falls), the people of Hydesville are slowly entering a more modern era and yet the Fox sisters throw them: can the knockings and other noises be real?
The author doesn't completely answer the question, leaving it open to the reader. Obviously there is some element of artifice here (Maggie and Kate's way of messing with their strict father) but might there also be something from the Other Side reaching out?
ARC provided by publisher.
ebancroft's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
themoonkestrel's review against another edition
2.0
The best part was the "what if" that it adds to the story, but sadly overall it felt like you could just read Wikipedia or a true account of it and get the same or more information than the book, and the writing was trying hard to be period-specific but all it did was make it a bit slow and not as interesting as it could have been.
rnin13's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eilidhcan's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
1.5
Not my thing at all.
Mainly due to the subject matter, I was completely turned off this. A spur of the moment library book.
Mainly due to the subject matter, I was completely turned off this. A spur of the moment library book.