![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vivdunstanJust read this, for my book club. It's an incredibly short read. It took me just 11 minutes to read the main story in the book, and 4 more minutes to read the author's afterword.
There were elements I liked. The illustrated small hardback book (and I lucked out by chance getting a signed one) is a gorgeous item. The illustrations are beautiful. And there is a sense of magic and winter running throughout. Some very nice animal elements in the book.
But it feels like the first draft of the start of a story that needed much more depth and especially length. I think if it had been improved in that way it could have been something incredibly special. As it is it is disappointing me and the other book club members who've read it.
The author's afterword is interesting, and worth reading. But if anything it just highlights how slight the main story is. For example the afterword discusses other wintry stories in the lyrics of Kate Bush songs. And those sounded far more interesting than what I just read ...
I am glad I read it. But equally glad I still have loads more to go in my first (and leisurely) read of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. Because I'm enjoying that way more than I did this.
Rating 2.5/5, or generously rounded up for Goodreads purposes to 3/5.
There were elements I liked. The illustrated small hardback book (and I lucked out by chance getting a signed one) is a gorgeous item. The illustrations are beautiful. And there is a sense of magic and winter running throughout. Some very nice animal elements in the book.
But it feels like the first draft of the start of a story that needed much more depth and especially length. I think if it had been improved in that way it could have been something incredibly special. As it is it is disappointing me and the other book club members who've read it.
The author's afterword is interesting, and worth reading. But if anything it just highlights how slight the main story is. For example the afterword discusses other wintry stories in the lyrics of Kate Bush songs. And those sounded far more interesting than what I just read ...
I am glad I read it. But equally glad I still have loads more to go in my first (and leisurely) read of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. Because I'm enjoying that way more than I did this.
Rating 2.5/5, or generously rounded up for Goodreads purposes to 3/5.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-09 05:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-12-09 09:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-12-09 02:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-12-09 09:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-12-09 10:02 pm (UTC)