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jenny_barton's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
aliceroddy_'s review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book feels like a fever dream. It was so long and the pacing was off ie. it moved so slowly but covered so much time so there was a real disconnect. There was also so much detail given to the most irrelevant details to the point where I could zone out for a whole couple of chapters and miss nothing. The ending was weird too - it felt out of place I think. It also makes no sense to me that this book was written in 2015! It felt so dated but I feel, on reflection, that some of the misogyny and the like was satire but I really have no idea. All this being said, it was kind of a fun time and it did make me laugh out loud a few times. So weird.
janisdeedy's review against another edition
5.0
This book is beautifully written. Many have said they got bored and I can see the moments that they mean, but the book it incredibly poetic. If you want beautiful imagery I strongly suggest this book.
victoriafrost1991's review against another edition
1.0
Not my favorite. Cannot bring myself even to provide 3 stars because it was meh. The idea of losing a loved one (i.e. fiancé, sibling, child, etc. ) is difficult. The different voice of characters was split for me. I generally like reading the different stories of people. Yet, this seemed messy in some way resulted to the characters being two dimensional.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
Simply lovely. Engrossing, satisfying, and wonderful. Not to be missed.
moominmama_11's review against another edition
3.0
Loved parts of this and hated others … doubt I’ll read the rest of the trilogy
greybeard49's review against another edition
4.0
Good story and well told but overlong and in some parts a little rambling. Occasionally descriptions generated a real emotion from this reader - his accounts of the front are spot on and the relationships between soldiers are pinned down really well. The sadness, grief and savagery of war are done well. A lot of the story however centres on the family left behind and on the progress that each family member makes during and after WW1 - parts very good but not always.
kathieboucher's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite of Louis de Bernieres' books. The setting and premise are interesting, but the main characters never grabbed me; featuring more of some of the side characters might have made for a more interesting and colorful story. More Christabel and Gaskell, please! Way too long. I just skimmed through some sections.
cfbuchanan's review against another edition
4.0
Took me most of the book to get into this, well over half way but by the end began to enjoy it more - I think because it took me a long time to like any of the characters! As I’ve read in other reviews, I think it would be better condensed.
essjay1's review against another edition
2.0
Ambivalent. Some sections are fabulous, others dull. I struggled through the first third, however the last two thirds moved along well. My biggest problem with this book is that when I finished it I just did not care about the characters or their story at all.