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ajay913's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Homophobia
njh_books's review
reflective
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
3.25
Having a decent background knowledge of Anne Lister, reading a historical fiction account about a section of her life where a lot of the information is missing, is quite interesting. Also seeing Anne Lister from someone else's eyes is refreshing as most stories about her have been either told from her perspective (her journals) or closely follow her (<i>Gentleman Jack</i>). We often discuss the adult Lister, but it is thought-provoking to think about how she was in her teens--what she would have been like and what she would have been up to.
That being said, this book is slow paced. The first 25 pages were long and the first 100 got slightly better, but were still long. The first really romantic scenes/actions between Lister and Raine occur in the 190s/306 pages. Slow burn of slow burns with a slow pace.
The letters from Eliza from the present back to the Eliza in 1805/1806 didn't work as smoothly for me as I would've liked. Without a lot of the information I already had about Lister and Raine, I think I would've often been left confused.
I think the premise is nice, but the plot almost cuts off as soon as it starts. Just when Raine and Lister finally seem to have some happiness, it's gone from Lister breaking her leg by falling off the school wall. I don't think we know the real reason why Lister left the Manor School, but for who she was, breaking a leg in such a careless way seemed strangely out of character.
The letters from Eliza from the present back to the Eliza in 1805/1806 didn't work as smoothly for me as I would've liked. Without a lot of the information I already had about Lister and Raine, I think I would've often been left confused.
I think the premise is nice, but the plot almost cuts off as soon as it starts. Just when Raine and Lister finally seem to have some happiness, it's gone from Lister breaking her leg by falling off the school wall. I don't think we know the real reason why Lister left the Manor School, but for who she was, breaking a leg in such a careless way seemed strangely out of character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, and Chronic illness
Minor: Suicide, War, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, and Pregnancy
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 • W O R D S
Fearless • Tender • Passionate
📖 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 Eliza’s life is turned inside out by this strange and curious young woman.
💭 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.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Emma Donoghue devotees
• historians with an interest in Anne Lister
• fans of historical fiction based on fact
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • 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 • W O R D S
Fearless • Tender • Passionate
📖 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 Eliza’s life is turned inside out by this strange and curious young woman.
💭 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.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Emma Donoghue devotees
• historians with an interest in Anne Lister
• fans of historical fiction based on fact
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • 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
jennalea_'s review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Once again my love of an epistolary novel reigns supreme. There’s something about the intimacy of letter writing that is incredibly powerful and for me, really elevates a story and I think Raine’s letters to Lister (while tinged with a feeling of unreliability at points) are heartbreaking.
Set in York, a place I know so well, this book really came alive for me particularly the part set in The Assembly Rooms - it was wonderful to imagine what that space might be like filled with music and dancing.
I was gripped by this book and it has definitely piqued my interest in Anne Lister and her extensive diary keeping!
I was gripped by this book and it has definitely piqued my interest in Anne Lister and her extensive diary keeping!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Slavery
Minor: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
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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