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rieviolet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I have to admit that the chapters set at Blackwater Park were a bit difficult to go through, given all the misery and abuse directed at the female characters, it made for a very bleak reading experience. However, the story was wrapped up neatly and in a satisfying way.
I wasn't expecting the vicious fatphobia that permeates the entire novel so I was quite taken aback and it really dampened my overall enjoyment.
Graphic: Confinement, Fatphobia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
exlibrissum's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Fatphobia, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
ggcd1981's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body shaming and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent
mimi_jaja's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I loved Mariane Halcombe and how Collins creates cinematic scenes, describing the fall of light and casting of shadows. He pays great attention to subtleties of character's expressions during dialogue. I was also surprised at times by the nuanced manner in which Collins depicted women's experiences, sisterhood, relationships and interactions with men that appeared in Mariane's passages. That said, Walter's place in the narrative as a white knight in shining armour spoilt the feminist potential of the story. The morality was also dubious. Also, I would say that the fatphobia throughout is pretty extreme. The representation of Italians was offensive but interesting as a snapshot of tolerant vs intolerant attitudes at the time.
I listened along to the audiobook as I read my paperback too which I can recommend. I was hooked! This was a pleasure to read and didn't feel at all like 600 pages.
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Xenophobia
Minor: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Murder
orndal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
dizz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The characters are so rich and full of personality. The author did such a good job in illustrating all of the characters.
The plot was super mysterious and interesting—imo there was no dragging around and everything progressed the plot, which I loved. The author tied up all the plot points wonderfully and it was very satisfying to read.
Honestly such a great story.
Note: miss halcombe was my favourite <3
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
reading_historical_romance's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
ok7a's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Abandonment
linguisticali's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent
the_books_music_life's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
My only problems with this book are the ones I have with older books like this and it's mainly the way women are portrayed and treated. But, as I said I understand because of the time period. My other problem with older books like this is the rambling aspect. Two chapters of nothing but explanations and useless rambling could in all reality fit on 1 page.
Despite the few issues I had, I rather actually enjoyed the two part mystery. Mystery one of who is the Woman in White is and later on the mystery involving Laura Fairlie were both on their own interesting but the way the author combined them was very well done. You have characters you like/love and characters you absolutely hate (if you read it you know who I mean) and it's done in a way that you have a real reason for disliking them.
Anther problem I had with he book was some of the revels. I felt very confused by a couple of the big revels and had to look up what was actually happening because the language and hidden meaning completely flew past me.
I would recommend the audiobook. The narrator has a soothing voice that is honestly perfect for the story in my opinion.
Graphic: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent