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kers_tin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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? It's complicated
5.0
This was so good! Historical fiction my beloved. Eliza deserved so much better 💔
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death of parent, Infidelity, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Racism, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
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
liesbethvv's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'm pretty sure the fact that I read this with a bookclub helped tremendously in the rating. I went into it blindly, without knowing anything about the main characters, so I just enjoyed the story for what it was: a coming of age story with a historical background and a teenage discovery of love and sex, where a tomboy falls for a dainty Indian 'princess' at boarding school. I admire Emma Donoghue's writing talent, as I was fully immersed in the boarding school setting and was actively wishing the story along. It could have been a tad quicker for me and the letters did little for my enjoyment, as they made me read the boarding school story less innocently (except for the angry one , loved that one). I did really love the repetition of bits of prose from classes, literature,... All in all, a highly recommended bookclub read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Abandonment
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