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Finally finished reading it. My feelings are mixed, and mostly mirror yours. Rebekah Send a noteboard - 19/02/2011 02:25:08 PM
Apart from the literary theory bit, of course.

I too found the beginning of the book (well, first half) sub-par and frustrating. I felt that she didn't let me make up my own mind about the characters, which was irritating. And I didn't really get to know any of them.

That last point didn't change with the rest of the book. We DON't really get to know the characters, but I was ok with that by then.

You're absolutely right that the way she tells history is incredible. I didn't really notice it for a while, and then when I realised what she was doing I was very impressed.

On the whole, I'm conflicted. Unlike you, her commas annoyed me so very much. But like you, I loved the description of the World Exhibition in Paris. I hated all of the characters - apart from Griselda, perhaps - but I loved what she ended up doing with some of them.

However.

AND HERE BE SPOILERS! (In white font, because I am nice.)


Why did she kill all of the boys apart from Florian?! Poor Olive. Poor Humphrey. That made me very sad. But I guess maybe it was representative of what happened in WWI?
*MySmiley*

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
Paul's review, which also links to Larry.
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Finally finished reading it. My feelings are mixed, and mostly mirror yours. - 19/02/2011 02:25:08 PM 1481 Views

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