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tothebookshelfandback's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
esshgee's review against another edition
2.0
I know I'm in a minority but I really didn't like this book. Some of the prose was lovely and evocative - hence the 2 stars - but I found the story disjointed and I didn't like the style. I persevered but, disappointingly, it didn't grow on me at all
elisabeth_julia's review against another edition
1.0
I should have read some quotes before buying this book. Then I would have immediately been put off by the poetic/pretentious writing and could have saved myself from reading “When the night comes” and wouldn’t have had to write a 1-star review. I rarely, so rarely give out 1 stars, but I just can’t find anything I like about “When the night comes” - it is a desolate wasteland of sheer nothingness.
Firstly, the writing: I just couldn’t get into it. The sentences are so disjointed, they might actually seem poetic to some people. I get that. Only that I don’t like poetry. There, I said it. I prefer chunky novels.
The only noticeable plot consists of strange freak accidents that make the main characters sad. Just because. Happy characters don’t make for a good emotional cry story, do they? Lucky that Parrett threw in some sadness to make her book more deep and meaningful.
Speaking of the characters: One of the two is a thirteen year old girl, the second one is a middle aged man. The narration alternates between the two of them from a first person's POV. Both of the characters sound exactly the same. Sometimes it took me two pages of a three pages chapter to figure out who is actually talking. Both characters have the exact same way to unfeelingly observe everything that’s going on around them. That way the reader feels completely removed from the story. Can anyone please explain to me why Parrett writes like that? I don’t know why the author would do such a terrible thing!
I had to put the book down every 10 pages because I just couldn’t stay focussed on the pages. Even writing this review makes me fall asleep…
The thing I was most bitterly disappointed by was Favel Parrett’s inability to bring her setting to life. I’ve been to Hobart myself, walked along the harbour, looked at the ships and imagined how it would be like to get on one of them and travel the Antarctica. It’s been on my bucket list ever since! Yet somehow Parrett was unable to evoke any feelings or emotions in me about that memory of mine.
The most interesting part about "When the night comes" was the little chapter at the end after the story was already over, which summed up the historical facts about the Nella Dan. Sad, I know.
Firstly, the writing: I just couldn’t get into it. The sentences are so disjointed, they might actually seem poetic to some people. I get that. Only that I don’t like poetry. There, I said it. I prefer chunky novels.
The only noticeable plot consists of strange freak accidents that make the main characters sad. Just because. Happy characters don’t make for a good emotional cry story, do they? Lucky that Parrett threw in some sadness to make her book more deep and meaningful.
Speaking of the characters: One of the two is a thirteen year old girl, the second one is a middle aged man. The narration alternates between the two of them from a first person's POV. Both of the characters sound exactly the same. Sometimes it took me two pages of a three pages chapter to figure out who is actually talking. Both characters have the exact same way to unfeelingly observe everything that’s going on around them. That way the reader feels completely removed from the story. Can anyone please explain to me why Parrett writes like that? I don’t know why the author would do such a terrible thing!
I had to put the book down every 10 pages because I just couldn’t stay focussed on the pages. Even writing this review makes me fall asleep…
The thing I was most bitterly disappointed by was Favel Parrett’s inability to bring her setting to life. I’ve been to Hobart myself, walked along the harbour, looked at the ships and imagined how it would be like to get on one of them and travel the Antarctica. It’s been on my bucket list ever since! Yet somehow Parrett was unable to evoke any feelings or emotions in me about that memory of mine.
The most interesting part about "When the night comes" was the little chapter at the end after the story was already over, which summed up the historical facts about the Nella Dan. Sad, I know.
theresab93's review against another edition
1.0
I don't give 1-Star ratings lightly, this being my second book to get the 1-Star, but man does a book have to annoy me and this one did some damage.
1. I look at the reviews of this book and I see people praise its writing, as poetic and charming, and I'm just ??????????? This was so blunt/straighforward/disjointed. Though granted, first-person narration is not my preference.
2. If you are going to have 2 narratives in a first person narrative structure, you need to clearly distinguish between the characters. It took me a while to realise that there was a 2nd narrator in this book. I was honestly so confused as to what was happening. Once I figured out how to tell, it still isn't a clear statement its a changing of narrator until you realise in the midst of the section its changed narrators
3. When I thought the only narrator was Isla, the bluntness of the writing fits for a child narrator, and thought "maybe I could tolerate it." But when the narration reads the same for Bo, a character I would say mid 30's maybe, then I'm definitely having a problem with the writing when I can't distinguish between the two when they sound exactly the same.
4. I didn't really get a plot in this. I got to about 60% before asking myself "okay, what is the story here?"
But hey, a book set in my state of Tasmania I guess was pretty neat.
1. I look at the reviews of this book and I see people praise its writing, as poetic and charming, and I'm just ??????????? This was so blunt/straighforward/disjointed. Though granted, first-person narration is not my preference.
2. If you are going to have 2 narratives in a first person narrative structure, you need to clearly distinguish between the characters. It took me a while to realise that there was a 2nd narrator in this book. I was honestly so confused as to what was happening. Once I figured out how to tell, it still isn't a clear statement its a changing of narrator until you realise in the midst of the section its changed narrators
3. When I thought the only narrator was Isla, the bluntness of the writing fits for a child narrator, and thought "maybe I could tolerate it." But when the narration reads the same for Bo, a character I would say mid 30's maybe, then I'm definitely having a problem with the writing when I can't distinguish between the two when they sound exactly the same.
4. I didn't really get a plot in this. I got to about 60% before asking myself "okay, what is the story here?"
But hey, a book set in my state of Tasmania I guess was pretty neat.
eric_sparks's review against another edition
4.0
In spite of the confusing construction of the book with the two, shifting, points of view and the shifting of time I thought the overall story was really good. I don't usually like fiction but I would not only recommend this book but would likely re-read it!
nina_reads_books's review against another edition
4.0
When the Night Comes is set in Tasmania in the late eighties with the freezing cold and damp pervading the pages. Isla and her brother move to Hobart with their mother after a family breakdown. Their lives are ones of poverty as their mother tries desperately to get on her feet. Eventually they are able to buy a small house with the proceeds from the divorce, but Isla and her brother are often left to look after themselves physically and emotionally.
One day twelve year old Isla sees a huge red ship at the ferry spot. It’s the Nella Dan, an Antarctic research ship. One of the sailors – Bo from Denmark – befriends her mother and spends time with their family over the summer. The chapters alternate between Bo’s life at sea in the Antarctic Ocean on the Nella Dan and Isla’s family in Tasmania. Bo eventually spends two summers with the family and his influence and kindness will have an immeasurable impact on Isla.
In her second book, Favel Parrett has drawn on the real life history of the Nella Dan’s expeditions to the Antarctic over 26 years culminating in its final journey when it becomes trapped in the ice. While the ship is real, the characters are fictional.
When the Night Comes is poignant and quietly beautiful but it is not quite as achingly sad as the author’s first book Past the Shallows. I felt that the characters didn’t have quite the same depth and the alternating view point felt a little disjointed this time around.
However while I didn’t love this as much as her other books I still enjoyed it a lot and found the writing completely beautiful. Favel Parrett is one of my favourite authors ❤
One day twelve year old Isla sees a huge red ship at the ferry spot. It’s the Nella Dan, an Antarctic research ship. One of the sailors – Bo from Denmark – befriends her mother and spends time with their family over the summer. The chapters alternate between Bo’s life at sea in the Antarctic Ocean on the Nella Dan and Isla’s family in Tasmania. Bo eventually spends two summers with the family and his influence and kindness will have an immeasurable impact on Isla.
In her second book, Favel Parrett has drawn on the real life history of the Nella Dan’s expeditions to the Antarctic over 26 years culminating in its final journey when it becomes trapped in the ice. While the ship is real, the characters are fictional.
When the Night Comes is poignant and quietly beautiful but it is not quite as achingly sad as the author’s first book Past the Shallows. I felt that the characters didn’t have quite the same depth and the alternating view point felt a little disjointed this time around.
However while I didn’t love this as much as her other books I still enjoyed it a lot and found the writing completely beautiful. Favel Parrett is one of my favourite authors ❤
wsk56's review against another edition
4.0
Gorgeous writing and two wonderful characters make this a wonderful read. Her descriptions of Antarctica and an island off the coast of Australia are vivid and unforgettable.
sgbolt's review against another edition
hopeful
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? No
3.75
jouljet's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
ree333's review
informative
reflective
sad
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death and Death