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francesmthompson's Reviews (976)
This book in one word: Melodrama.
This book in two words: MAJOR Melodrama.
This book in five words: A melodrama of Frankenstein proportions.
And so on.
I really wanted this to impress and entertain being that it is considered the first sci-fi horror story of its time and also Ms Shelley and her mum (Mary Wolstencraft - Google her) lived such unconventional lives for their times, however the constant "Woe is wretched me!" (there were a LOT of wretches and wretched-ness in this book) tone just took all my attention away from the plot. Also, what was with the story within a story within a story set-up? Or rather, story within a story within a very long letter from a boat that actually had no means of sending the letter? Forgive me Mary, but it just didn't swim with me.
However, I'm glad I read it and I'm glad I don't have to again. If that makes sense.
This book in two words: MAJOR Melodrama.
This book in five words: A melodrama of Frankenstein proportions.
And so on.
I really wanted this to impress and entertain being that it is considered the first sci-fi horror story of its time and also Ms Shelley and her mum (Mary Wolstencraft - Google her) lived such unconventional lives for their times, however the constant "Woe is wretched me!" (there were a LOT of wretches and wretched-ness in this book) tone just took all my attention away from the plot. Also, what was with the story within a story within a story set-up? Or rather, story within a story within a very long letter from a boat that actually had no means of sending the letter? Forgive me Mary, but it just didn't swim with me.
However, I'm glad I read it and I'm glad I don't have to again. If that makes sense.
Warning: This book is not to be picked up when one is remotely down in the dumps. Or maybe that's exactly when one should read this stream-of-consciousness account of one woman's leaving of old life in New York for new, uncertain, very lost, very disorganised searching for any kind of remnant of a life in New Zealand. From the blurb I expected big descriptions of New Zealand's big landscapes as well as big reveals of big twists and turns in the plot. I didn't exactly get either of these things, but I definitely got something from this book... though I'm still not sure what I got from it. But that's absolutely fine with me. Sometimes that's enough.
A very pleasant surprise that only occasionally got bogged down with the details of all the author's research, which of course is impressive in itself. Made me want to read Pride and Prejudice again!
Hmmm. I just couldn't see the point of this novel at all. And I know that that's actualy kind of the point of holiday reads (and indeed I picked it up in the villa we were renting in Tuscany) but still... it kept me hanging on for something, but then didn't deliver it.
It's also an interesting observation by other reviewers here that the older woman having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old boy seems to be considered "sexy" and "seductive" while the alternative of a 40-something-man and a teenage girl would have been a very different novel indeed.
All that said, I think the writer is capable of a lot, lot more so maybe I'll try some of her other books.
It's also an interesting observation by other reviewers here that the older woman having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old boy seems to be considered "sexy" and "seductive" while the alternative of a 40-something-man and a teenage girl would have been a very different novel indeed.
All that said, I think the writer is capable of a lot, lot more so maybe I'll try some of her other books.
Dark, disturbing and sadly didn't hold my attention or grab my imagination as well as I hoped or expected it too... hence it was duly abandoned. Maybe I just needed something a bit lighter in my life because I've heard only good things about this book *Sigh*.
