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corny899's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sawyerbell's review against another edition
5.0
As subtle and beautiful as the wings of a moth. 4.5 stars.
abookolive's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. I loved the description and was looking forward to experiencing a story with an introverted woman as the main character. The only thing that I ended up being even remotely satisfied by was the quiet and almost eerie atmosphere that Aridjis painted. You could really feel Marie's restlessness and dissatisfaction with her unremarkable existence as a museum guard. Though I get why the plot wasn't very flashy, I found myself waiting for the story to actually begin. I was still waiting when I finished the book.
queenkatherine's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
mercybeecup's review against another edition
3.0
Beautiful writing, but ultimately soulless and flat. I'd go into more detail, but I fell asleep twice trying to get through this book. It's just one of those books where the "quirkiness" and how "different" the protagonist and other supporting characters are, aren't enough to save the substance of the story.
theanxiousreader's review against another edition
reflective
tense
slow-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
2.75
tillydaisym's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the subtle social commentary of this novel, but the plot was a little disjointed and slow, which was a shame. Still, it's worth a read!
omnibozo22's review against another edition
3.0
This short, quiet novel proved to be less engaging than the reviews, for me. The symbolic, metaphoric elements screamed 'snap zoom,' and left little room for surprise. The few dramatic moments mostly disappointed in not exploring ample opportunities for greater mysteries. While it was interesting to read the historic aspects of the paintings in the story, the most interesting section of the book was in the "About the Author" section. Turns out, Aridjis has a Ph.D. in 19th French poetry and magic shows. Eh? I'll check on that.