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hmatt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I'm not generally one for slow, introspective fiction, but Donoghue does it well and I was intrigued by the premise of this one. I feel as though the story lulls midway through, though, and I didn't get much from it after that... I'm also not sure that I like the framing of the letters from the future. That didn't work for me, although I suppose I see why the author wrote it that way. I think I would have preferred a bit of a mystery fade-to-black situation after Lister leaves with her broken leg. The end as it is felt a bit tacked-on and really jolted me as a reader out of the atmosphere the rest of the novel created. I do think others will enjoy this more deeply, it just wasn't the right pace and vibe for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Racism, Sexism, and Child death
Minor: Pregnancy, Chronic illness, and Toxic friendship
james1star's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Racism, Death of parent, Colonisation, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Slavery
ruthlessreads's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
This wonderfully researched historical fiction based on a true story explores the budding relationship of two young girls at boarding school in 19th century England--Eliza Raine & Anne Lister. It's a beautiful & heart breaking love story but I do think it's quite a slow read. If you aren't interested in character studies, especially if they're delivered with historical minutiae & strict attention to detail, then this might not be the book for you.
As someone who really enjoys reading about this time period and about historical queer people, I loved this book. It was carefully researched and I can tell that Donoghue took a lot of care in her characterization of both Lister & Raine. Be warned that this is not a story that ends happily so I don't recommend going into this if you're looking for a soft, happy romance.
As someone who really enjoys reading about this time period and about historical queer people, I loved this book. It was carefully researched and I can tell that Donoghue took a lot of care in her characterization of both Lister & Raine. Be warned that this is not a story that ends happily so I don't recommend going into this if you're looking for a soft, happy romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Homophobia, Genocide, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Bullying, Chronic illness, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Abandonment, and Racism
kelly_e's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Title: Learned By Heart
Author: Emma Donoghue
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: August 29, 2023
T H R E E β’ W O R D S
Fearless β’ Tender β’ Passionate
π S Y N O P S I S
In 1805 fourteen-year-old Eliza Raine is a school girl at the Manor School for Young Ladies in York. The daughter of an Indian mother and a British father, Eliza was banished to this unfamiliar country as a little girl. When she first stepped off the King George in Kent, Eliza was accompanied by her older sister, Jane, but now she boards alone at the Manor, with no one left to claim her. She spends her days avoiding the attention of her fellow pupils until, one day, a fearless and charismatic new student arrives at the school. The two girls are immediately thrown together and soon Elizaβs life is turned inside out by this strange and curious young woman.
π T H O U G H T S
Learned by Heart was one of my most anticipated 2023 releases (Donoghue is an auto-buy for me), so of course I had to make it my September selection for the personal book of the month project I've been completing this year. I went in completely blind having pre-ordered the book shortly after it was announced.
Anyone familiar with Emma Donoghue's writing will know she delivers deeply researched and distinctive historical fiction - this one was no exception. Impeccably researched and based on the true story of Anne Lister and Eliza Raine, it delivers on a topic I knew absolutely nothing about. The author's interest and knowledge of Anne Lister's story was evident, and the author's note offered even more insight into the matter.
Written in elegant prose and capturing the essence of the time period flawlessly, this novel explores what is at first an all-consuming friendship, eventually leading to first love. The pacing is quite slow, yet the character growth shines brightly. I really didn't have that much interest in the story itself, so there was a lack of investment on my part. I suspect having prior knowledge of the characters would have improved the overall reading experience. Additionally, for me, the letters really broke up the pacing detracting from my attention, even though they played an important role in the narrative.
On the whole, Emma Donoghue's writing shines in what is one of the more forgettable novels I have read from her. Similar to Haven the character depth is what truly stands out, especially as the plot takes a back seat, so this one will definitely not be for everyone. Unrelated to the novel itself, Learned by Heart delivers another stunning cover, something I've come to expect from her novels.
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ Emma Donoghue devotees
β’ historians with an interest in Anne Lister
β’ fans of historical fiction based on fact
π F A V O U R I T E β’ Q U O T E S
"Love comes not when it's contracted for but when it will."
Author: Emma Donoghue
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: August 29, 2023
T H R E E β’ W O R D S
Fearless β’ Tender β’ Passionate
π S Y N O P S I S
In 1805 fourteen-year-old Eliza Raine is a school girl at the Manor School for Young Ladies in York. The daughter of an Indian mother and a British father, Eliza was banished to this unfamiliar country as a little girl. When she first stepped off the King George in Kent, Eliza was accompanied by her older sister, Jane, but now she boards alone at the Manor, with no one left to claim her. She spends her days avoiding the attention of her fellow pupils until, one day, a fearless and charismatic new student arrives at the school. The two girls are immediately thrown together and soon Elizaβs life is turned inside out by this strange and curious young woman.
π T H O U G H T S
Learned by Heart was one of my most anticipated 2023 releases (Donoghue is an auto-buy for me), so of course I had to make it my September selection for the personal book of the month project I've been completing this year. I went in completely blind having pre-ordered the book shortly after it was announced.
Anyone familiar with Emma Donoghue's writing will know she delivers deeply researched and distinctive historical fiction - this one was no exception. Impeccably researched and based on the true story of Anne Lister and Eliza Raine, it delivers on a topic I knew absolutely nothing about. The author's interest and knowledge of Anne Lister's story was evident, and the author's note offered even more insight into the matter.
Written in elegant prose and capturing the essence of the time period flawlessly, this novel explores what is at first an all-consuming friendship, eventually leading to first love. The pacing is quite slow, yet the character growth shines brightly. I really didn't have that much interest in the story itself, so there was a lack of investment on my part. I suspect having prior knowledge of the characters would have improved the overall reading experience. Additionally, for me, the letters really broke up the pacing detracting from my attention, even though they played an important role in the narrative.
On the whole, Emma Donoghue's writing shines in what is one of the more forgettable novels I have read from her. Similar to Haven the character depth is what truly stands out, especially as the plot takes a back seat, so this one will definitely not be for everyone. Unrelated to the novel itself, Learned by Heart delivers another stunning cover, something I've come to expect from her novels.
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ Emma Donoghue devotees
β’ historians with an interest in Anne Lister
β’ fans of historical fiction based on fact
π F A V O U R I T E β’ Q U O T E S
"Love comes not when it's contracted for but when it will."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Medical content, Suicide, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage
maddiereadswords's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
When I heard there was a new historical fiction novel about Anne Lister, I hoped I was going to like it, but this absolutely exceeded my expectations in every way. I won't lie, this really is a tragic and heartbreaking book in a lot of ways, but it's also an achingly beautiful story of two young girls falling in love, and all the tenderness and feelings that come with that. The school year sections are told in present tense (something, something, the past is still alive in the present, you can't take loved away, etc. etc.) and broken up into short vignettes that keep the story moving, and while the later letters interspersed (and the author's note at the end) speak to the tragedy of Eliza's life after school, I think the focus on that singular year, was a really powerful way to tell such a story.
This is not an overall happy book, and Anne Lister in particular was not always a very kind or good person, but this is, in my opinion, historical fiction at its finest!! I feel like I need to rewatch Gentleman Jack immediately,and also if you're read this far you've just lost the game.
This is not an overall happy book, and Anne Lister in particular was not always a very kind or good person, but this is, in my opinion, historical fiction at its finest!! I feel like I need to rewatch Gentleman Jack immediately,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Racism, Classism, Colonisation, and Confinement
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, Child death, and Miscarriage
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Sexism, Racism, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Colonisation, Homophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: War, Suicide, Medical content, and Slavery
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