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aaronentaylor's review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
2.5
alysian_fields's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
schellenbergk's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
romantiques's review against another edition
4.0
“no,’ she sadly insisted—‘men don’t know. they know in such matters almost nothing but what women show them.”
nick_jenkins's review against another edition
5.0
I have found that James’s prose style is so obtrusive that the full emotional and imaginative impact of his plots strikes one only with a delay, as one revisits certain moments and retraces certain interactions between characters. Separate from the specificities of his language, the fierce churn and tacit agony of the emotions involved speak for themselves. In other words, an immediate impression of a James novel is quite likely a misrepresentation—perhaps a méconnaissance—of what one eventually will have to feel, as one is compelled to new experiences, to experience a new if yet twinned and latent book.
ajordan60's review against another edition
1.0
I hung out to the end, but woof. Nothing redeemable for me.
finny's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
3.0
pipercurda's review against another edition
4.0
“my dear child, we move in a labyrinth.”
“of course we do. that’s just the fun of it!”
this book and its plot and its language is exactly that—a labyrinth. a complex, melodic, achingly beautiful, and equally sinister labyrinth. this was my first james novel and, albeit dense and time-consuming, it did not disappoint. i could read james’ spinning, layered, six-line sentences all day. the plot is mildly difficult to follow at times in terms of keeping all the characters and their varying personal agendas straight, but (see above) that’s just the fun of it!
“of course we do. that’s just the fun of it!”
this book and its plot and its language is exactly that—a labyrinth. a complex, melodic, achingly beautiful, and equally sinister labyrinth. this was my first james novel and, albeit dense and time-consuming, it did not disappoint. i could read james’ spinning, layered, six-line sentences all day. the plot is mildly difficult to follow at times in terms of keeping all the characters and their varying personal agendas straight, but (see above) that’s just the fun of it!
aurorepersy's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly... it has its moments. But mostly it does not. Gets better if you can picture it as a little play in your head. I don’t think I would’ve made it through or remotely picked it up if my way wasn’t lighted by teachers/scholars. Even after two readings... it’s just too much to try to process or enjoy.