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fates_fables_golem's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.75
angeliki7's review against another edition
4.0
Peculiar but charming novel about young rich people landing on their feet. If you can manage not to take it too seriously and not examine the morality too closely, as those who seem to elevate themselves out of mire with money often do, and allow yourself to be won over by the whimsy, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable and well paced read.
I do feel it would’ve made such a good series!
I do feel it would’ve made such a good series!
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
This is a favorite of mine that I have read over and over. The Carrington family is tossed to the winds, and watching them find their somewhat eccentric paths is entertaining and just a terrific light read. It's set in England in the 1950s, but there is a timeless quality to these adventures. I am sure I will read this again sometime, anything by Dodie Smith really.
pipfromspace's review
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
4.0
pedantic_reader's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
littlelarks's review
3.0
VERY similar to I Capture the Castle in tone - a quaint tale of a quirky family in London and four children who set out to make their fortune after an unfortunate turn of fate. Pleasant enough read but did not live up to the potential of the beginning - while each child's adventures are entertaining, some appeal more that others and since they are divided into seperate sections, my overall enjoyment of the tale varied wildly.
Slightly ashamed that it rook me 3/4ths of the book to get the full ...meaning... of the title, once the similarities in each character's path became plain. And despite it's charms (Dodie Smith's writing style being the main draw) May/December relationships (be they romantic or platonic) are just... not my favorite device to wrap a story around.
Slightly ashamed that it rook me 3/4ths of the book to get the full ...meaning... of the title, once the similarities in each character's path became plain. And despite it's charms (Dodie Smith's writing style being the main draw) May/December relationships (be they romantic or platonic) are just... not my favorite device to wrap a story around.
guiltlesspleasures's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I was all set to give this four stars, but… not quite. It is a very weird book - atmospheric, fairly Gothic, full of delightfully eccentric characters, vividly rendered settings. A few notes:
- I loved Merry, but a 14 year old falling in love with a middle-aged man is just gross - and her family members encouraging it later is even grosser.
- Drew’s story was intriguing and even enjoyable, but with an air of discomfort.
- Richard was just … nothing.
- Clare’s story was my favorite, appealing to the Georgette Heyer fan in me who is willing to put her feminist principles aside and just enjoy the ride.
- If I had to put my 21st c. judgy pants on, holy cow, there is white, wealthy privilege all over the place here.
- Jane was quite a tragic character, and the book ended on a pretty sad note.
Basically, suspend your morals and you’ll spend a pleasant few hours in the Carringtons’ world.
- I loved Merry, but a 14 year old falling in love with a middle-aged man is just gross - and her family members encouraging it later is even grosser.
- Drew’s story was intriguing and even enjoyable, but with an air of discomfort.
- Richard was just … nothing.
- Clare’s story was my favorite, appealing to the Georgette Heyer fan in me who is willing to put her feminist principles aside and just enjoy the ride.
- If I had to put my 21st c. judgy pants on, holy cow, there is white, wealthy privilege all over the place here.
- Jane was quite a tragic character, and the book ended on a pretty sad note.
Basically, suspend your morals and you’ll spend a pleasant few hours in the Carringtons’ world.
akallabeth's review
absolutely no idea what to do with this, rating wise.
every single character in this book is absolutely divorced from reality in a way that is objectively infuriating, and calling the actual events of the novel 'unrealistic' would be. putting it mildly.
but the way dodie smith writes is so equally divorced from reality that you just... go with it? and have fun? i haven't read i capture the castle but i do know this kind of Quirky Whimsical writing is sort of her shtick, and i think how you feel about that is probably going to greatly influence how you feel about this book.
i found it bizarrely gripping (for some reason?? the plot is hardly a page-turner) and sped through it; it did NOT feel almost 400 pages long.
listen, i have no idea. well played, dodie smith.
every single character in this book is absolutely divorced from reality in a way that is objectively infuriating, and calling the actual events of the novel 'unrealistic' would be. putting it mildly.
but the way dodie smith writes is so equally divorced from reality that you just... go with it? and have fun? i haven't read i capture the castle but i do know this kind of Quirky Whimsical writing is sort of her shtick, and i think how you feel about that is probably going to greatly influence how you feel about this book.
i found it bizarrely gripping (for some reason?? the plot is hardly a page-turner) and sped through it; it did NOT feel almost 400 pages long.
listen, i have no idea. well played, dodie smith.
lozkp's review
2.0
A sudden ending and a very fluffy plot line. Not as enjoyable as I capture the Castle