Rating: Summary: Not in the same league with 'Rebecca' Review: "starcloud 99": you were _not_ the only reader who did not enjoy this, in my opinion, highly overrated book. I too found the comparison to 'Rebecca' completely misleading. I'm also in profound disagreement with an editorial reviewer who described this book as "ruthlessly funny." Rather than finding the book funny, I thought it was relentlessly downbeat, featuring a cast of characters who, for the most part, live pathetically pointless lives. I was unable to connect to any of the characters, leaving me frustrated and unmoved by the story's end. The cleverest thing about the book was the way the author inexorably brought together the seemingly unrelated characters. Unfortunately, by the book's end, I didn't find this clever device to be sufficient compensation for having spent all that time learning about a mostly disagreeable cast of characters. This book left me disappointed and vaguely depressed.
Rating: Summary: ANOTHER FINE NOVEL FROM A NEW FAVORITE... Review: After reading THE MISSING WORLD, I am now firmly entrenched as a fan of this fine writer. Livesey's characters are absolutely superb -- each with their own very believable and thoroughly developed idiosyncracies -- and, as in her other novels, she sets each of their stories in careful and deliberate motion before weaving their paths together.The main player here is Jonathan -- not a very likable bloke, very manipulative. He has botched his relationship with his girlfriend Hazel by an infidelity that sends her packing in anger to a place of her own. A stroke of misfoetune for her -- and, as he comes to see it, a stroke of luck for himself -- gives him a rare opportunity to erase the past and re-write it in his favor. At least, that's what he tries to do -- his success or failure I'll leave open to the potential reader. The suspense in Livesey's work is amazingly palpable -- and this novel is no exception. Thankfully, she's smart enough -- and respects her readers' intelligence enough -- not to allow herself to produce predictable plot twists or endings. In writing the character of Jonathan, the author is exceptionally adept at getting us right into his head, his thought processes. We can hear how he not only deceives those around him, and plots to do so from minute to minute -- we can hear him deceiving himself. The insights she paints into his visions of violence against those who might blow his schemes out of the water are chilling as well. There are lessons here about the mistakes we make in our lives and what we should attempt to do about them -- all wrapped up in a very entertaining, skillfully developed and brilliantly conceived story. I still like EVA MOVES THE FURNITURE the best of what I've read of her works -- but everything I've read by her is first-rate.
Rating: Summary: ANOTHER FINE NOVEL FROM A NEW FAVORITE... Review: After reading THE MISSING WORLD, I am now firmly entrenched as a fan of this fine writer. Livesey's characters are absolutely superb -- each with their own very believable and thoroughly developed idiosyncracies -- and, as in her other novels, she sets each of their stories in careful and deliberate motion before weaving their paths together. The main player here is Jonathan -- not a very likable bloke, very manipulative. He has botched his relationship with his girlfriend Hazel by an infidelity that sends her packing in anger to a place of her own. A stroke of misfoetune for her -- and, as he comes to see it, a stroke of luck for himself -- gives him a rare opportunity to erase the past and re-write it in his favor. At least, that's what he tries to do -- his success or failure I'll leave open to the potential reader. The suspense in Livesey's work is amazingly palpable -- and this novel is no exception. Thankfully, she's smart enough -- and respects her readers' intelligence enough -- not to allow herself to produce predictable plot twists or endings. In writing the character of Jonathan, the author is exceptionally adept at getting us right into his head, his thought processes. We can hear how he not only deceives those around him, and plots to do so from minute to minute -- we can hear him deceiving himself. The insights she paints into his visions of violence against those who might blow his schemes out of the water are chilling as well. There are lessons here about the mistakes we make in our lives and what we should attempt to do about them -- all wrapped up in a very entertaining, skillfully developed and brilliantly conceived story. I still like EVA MOVES THE FURNITURE the best of what I've read of her works -- but everything I've read by her is first-rate.
Rating: Summary: Her third novel was well worth the wait. Review: Again, Livesey displays her mastery of writing with multiple points of view. The immediate and urgent beginning with Hazel's brain seizure and Jonathan's frantic drive to rescue her at once drew me in. One of the things I like the most about this book, indeed about Livesey's style, is how she portrays psychological detail so accurately that I forget I am reading a book. At first I found myself cheering for Jonathan, but as the plot unfolded, I grew to detest him. He reminds me so much of the slimy Kenneth--a character in her previous novel, Criminals. The drama surrounding Charlotte also was interesting, but I was most involved in Hazel's missing memory and what the characters were doing about it. With every page, the tension continued to build, constantly drawing me closer and yet frustrating me with the torturous psychological suspense. One problem I had was that the shifts in point of view were sometimes too abrupt (my own reading could be at fault, though). Another doubt I had was how similar this book was to her previous novel; I guess the way everyone converges at the ending made me think of the similar scene at Mill of Fortune in Criminals. The final moments of each book are focused on the bad guys: in Criminals, Kenneth is at the phone in the Blind Beggar, trying, perhaps, to get money in another scheme; in The Missing World, Jonathan is pondering his next move in his obsession with Hazel. The similar endings make me wonder if the author stayed too closely to what worked for her before. I'm really not sure if I'm right about this--it's just something that occurs to me when I think about the book. The writing is outstanding; her craft and technique magically wonderful. p.s. If you can find her first novel, Homework, buy it. It's outstanding, too.
Rating: Summary: The Missing World Review: Am I the only one who didn't like this novel? My friends and I had all recently read "Rebecca" somewhat together, and were looking for another novel for our book "club". When we found this one and saw that on the front cover it said "a modern day 'Rebecca'", we immediately bought it. I was severely dissapointed. The writing is well rounded, but it just did not hold my attention. I went through about 71 pages and I just couldn't read any more. The story bounced around between 6 or so different characters, and I just couldn't keep track of them all. It turned out my friends had the same opinion I did. None of us got through Chapter 6. I'm glad others enjoyed it. *S*
Rating: Summary: A wonderful book Review: Beautiful, intelligent writing; delicious, fully-developed, sympathetic characters; great wit and substance, and so engrossing that I slipped off the back of my treadmill while reading it.
Rating: Summary: I Must Be Missing Something Review: I am with you - I got to page 70 and had to put this book down. I tried to get through it -- but it lost me. Very disapointing for $ 35 Cdn.
Rating: Summary: an intricate, moving novel Review: I found THE MISSING WORLD extraordinary for how it renders the complexity of its characters, their deep flaws and deep yearnings, while never backing up and passing judgment on them. By shifting points of view, Margot Livesey allows us to keep seeing the world of this novel from multiple vantage points; the results are at once gripping and psychologically complex. The novel explores memory and repression, the way people can manipulate each other, the blindness of both love and hatred--all while being an unbelievably engrossing read.
Rating: Summary: missing world and missing a lot more... Review: I found this book very dull and ordinary...nothing special. I did'nt even like the characters, they were boring and I felt very distant from them. This scenario had so much potential... a car accident, loss of memory, en ex-boyfriend...but unfortunatly the plot just did'nt thicken... I can't even say it was predictable because there was'nt much going on. Too many details of unimportant events and tiresome people and not enough intrigue or mystery for it to be a page turner. I had a hard time even reading it to the end. I found the cover design and the synopsis to be more fascinating than the story itself therefore I give it one star (*). I can't honestly recommend this book.
Rating: Summary: Where's the ending? Review: I liked this book quite a bit. It's well written. The way crucial information is revealed slowly and casually is very effective. The story and characters are developed nicely, and it's suspenseful from the first page. My only real complaint is that there doesn't seem to be an ending. The primary question is answered, but there's no denoument or resolution of the minor plot points. I finished the book and wanted another twenty pages. This doesn't detract from the story, exactly, but it's making it harder for me to think fondly about the book.
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