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billymac1962's review against another edition
2.0
At last count Ruth Rendell has written over 40 novels.
As you can well imagine it's a tough job trying to figure out which one to read next. I had decided on Crocodile Bird after seeing an old thread about it in the rec.arts.mystery newsgroup but I'm afraid that particular source has let me down on this one.
The story has an interesting premise: a mother and her daughter are gatehouse residents for a remote country estate. The mother is determined to raise her daughter completely isolated from the evils of society.
Where the past Rendell novels I've read have pulled me along to to the end, I found I was the one pushing forth to get there. It had a hard time keeping my interest, but I kept with it, having faith in Ruthie. I still have faith in her of course, and will definitely read much more of her.
This one didn't quite do it for me though.
As you can well imagine it's a tough job trying to figure out which one to read next. I had decided on Crocodile Bird after seeing an old thread about it in the rec.arts.mystery newsgroup but I'm afraid that particular source has let me down on this one.
The story has an interesting premise: a mother and her daughter are gatehouse residents for a remote country estate. The mother is determined to raise her daughter completely isolated from the evils of society.
Where the past Rendell novels I've read have pulled me along to to the end, I found I was the one pushing forth to get there. It had a hard time keeping my interest, but I kept with it, having faith in Ruthie. I still have faith in her of course, and will definitely read much more of her.
This one didn't quite do it for me though.
doritobabe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
laila4343's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing. A mother-daughter relationship dynamic for the ages. Did Eve hinder her daughter's development by keeping her so isolated from the outside world or did she make her into an unusually resourceful and strong young woman? I won't forget Liza Beck, our heroine, for some time. She's a beautifully drawn character with an amazing story. Dark, intricately plotted, compelling reading. Easily the best of Rendell's works that I've read thus far.
eleanora0901's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
claireb2223's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
ali_enza's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was suspenseful and kept me on edge, even though it was a recounting of the past, in which we already know some of what's happened.
The narrator was really wonderful, young and naive but so intelligent. I loved all of the references to other literature. The narrator was quite special because of her upbringing, closed off from the world. For a while, I even had a hard time placing the year and time period. Little details kept coming out to tell me that they were living in a modern world even though I knew it must be relatively modern given that the first scenes involves cars and buses.
The telling was quite slow but it really set the drama and had me gasping for breath by the end.
The narrator was really wonderful, young and naive but so intelligent. I loved all of the references to other literature. The narrator was quite special because of her upbringing, closed off from the world. For a while, I even had a hard time placing the year and time period. Little details kept coming out to tell me that they were living in a modern world even though I knew it must be relatively modern given that the first scenes involves cars and buses.
The telling was quite slow but it really set the drama and had me gasping for breath by the end.
robynryle's review against another edition
4.0
I really love the weirdness of her non-Wexford mysteries.
anniekenway's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Really enjoyed re reading this on holiday. You feel safe in the arms of such a good writer. Slow and dark. Great skilful plotting.
highladyofthenightcourt21's review against another edition
2.0
Welllll I’m certainly in the minority here. DNF with ~100 pages left.
Fiction is my escape from the world. This book felt like a literal chore to read.
The plot was somewhat interesting but I felt that all the little details bogged things down. I guess I’m just not one who needs to imagine every little detail of the scenery and surroundings... I can appreciate the beauty of this, I just feel it’s unnecessary, especially in a mystery / thriller type book.
I looked up a synopsis of the book instead of finishing it and am honestly glad I stopped. Life is too short to read books you don’t enjoy.
Wouldn’t ever pick up again, but definitely read it if you like long-winded stories!
Fiction is my escape from the world. This book felt like a literal chore to read.
The plot was somewhat interesting but I felt that all the little details bogged things down. I guess I’m just not one who needs to imagine every little detail of the scenery and surroundings... I can appreciate the beauty of this, I just feel it’s unnecessary, especially in a mystery / thriller type book.
I looked up a synopsis of the book instead of finishing it and am honestly glad I stopped. Life is too short to read books you don’t enjoy.
Wouldn’t ever pick up again, but definitely read it if you like long-winded stories!
caroparr's review against another edition
3.0
Like Scheherezade, Liza tells the bizarre story of her life night after night to her appalled boyfriend, whom she has known for just a few weeks. Liza's mother Eve is a great Rendell character - obsessed, unafraid, and willing to commit murder to get what she can't live without. It's a pageturner, but I wish Eve's story made more sense, especially her reasons for sheltering Liza from the outside world. The story concludes with a twist that I'll give her even though it's not entirely believable.