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3.79k reviews by:
kailey_luminouslibro
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Peter asks a fortune teller if his sister is still alive somewhere and how he can find her. They were separated when they were orphans, and now Peter is searching for her. The fortune teller tells him to follow the elephant and he will his sister. A magician is conjuring up a bouquet of lilies when an elephant mysteriously appears instead of the flowers. The strange appearance of the elephant sets events in motion that lead Peter to his family.
I got bored with the slow plot. The story is very atmospheric, but there is not a lot that actually happens.
This author has an artistic style of writing that makes her prose seem like she's trying to write poetry. It's kind of weird and half-way doesn't make sense. Most of her books have left me feeling.... hmmmm.... something strange that I can't put my finger on b/c I'm so confused by her weirdness. Her characters are kind of confusing. They don't say things that they ought to, and it leaves things terribly unclear. Yes, sort of like poetry - where things are unclear, or some line is only in there because it rhymes, and not because it provides any actual information. Despite all that, I enjoyed the book in a weird sort of way.
I got bored with the slow plot. The story is very atmospheric, but there is not a lot that actually happens.
This author has an artistic style of writing that makes her prose seem like she's trying to write poetry. It's kind of weird and half-way doesn't make sense. Most of her books have left me feeling.... hmmmm.... something strange that I can't put my finger on b/c I'm so confused by her weirdness. Her characters are kind of confusing. They don't say things that they ought to, and it leaves things terribly unclear. Yes, sort of like poetry - where things are unclear, or some line is only in there because it rhymes, and not because it provides any actual information. Despite all that, I enjoyed the book in a weird sort of way.
I've liked some of Alan Garner's other books, but this one was just confusing. Most references to time are left out, like "The next day..." or "hours earlier...", so you have no idea what is going on, until you realize halfway into the characters conversation that this must be the next day, or they must have moved to inside the house now b/c this wouldn't make sense if they were still outside. He just leaves you guessing.
I do not understand any of these characters. Every word they say is so confusing, and I can't tell if they're joking with one another or if they're serious. Sometimes there are no helpful descriptions, like "Roger laughed." Then just when I think I have someone figured out they turn into someone else. Much like life, I suppose.
You never see Alison's mother at all. She's this invisible non-entity that everyone is afraid of upsetting. I like that artistic touch of never actually meeting her, but she has a definite influence on every character. Well done!
Many of the jokes or references may be Welsh things or British sayings that I just don't know. Perhaps that accounts for some of the confusion. I think I could have enjoyed this story more if it had just been clearly written. I really like the idea of the story and the way it moves, but nothing is ever explained.
I have no idea what happened at the end. It just ends and I don't get it. Are the feathers magically gone? Is Allison okay? Is she dead or an owl zombie or is she turned into flowers? Is she back to her normal self? Are they still fighting? Why did they act like that, but not try to kill one another at the stone with the hole or whatever? Is Roger going to be a photographer? Is Allison going abroad? Is Gwyn going to work in a shop? Where did Nancy get to? Don't know.
I do not understand any of these characters. Every word they say is so confusing, and I can't tell if they're joking with one another or if they're serious. Sometimes there are no helpful descriptions, like "Roger laughed." Then just when I think I have someone figured out they turn into someone else. Much like life, I suppose.
You never see Alison's mother at all. She's this invisible non-entity that everyone is afraid of upsetting. I like that artistic touch of never actually meeting her, but she has a definite influence on every character. Well done!
Many of the jokes or references may be Welsh things or British sayings that I just don't know. Perhaps that accounts for some of the confusion. I think I could have enjoyed this story more if it had just been clearly written. I really like the idea of the story and the way it moves, but nothing is ever explained.
I have no idea what happened at the end. It just ends and I don't get it. Are the feathers magically gone? Is Allison okay? Is she dead or an owl zombie or is she turned into flowers? Is she back to her normal self? Are they still fighting? Why did they act like that, but not try to kill one another at the stone with the hole or whatever? Is Roger going to be a photographer? Is Allison going abroad? Is Gwyn going to work in a shop? Where did Nancy get to? Don't know.
