The Emperor's Children
1 journaler for this copy...
The Emperor's Children" was recommended to me by several people; I was also very encouraged by the reviews. Maybe because of my high expectations, I was a bit disappointed after reading this novel. I guess I thought that it would be an absolute masterpiece, that it would leave me breathless. Nothing of that sort.
However, I do think that Claire Messud wrote a very decent book. First of all, it does become engrossing before the end. I am not sure if this is a characteristic of a great novel, but it is certainly positive.
The book starts very slowly and continues at a rather slow pace - important events come without being specially stressed or prepared. The structure of the novel adds to this impression - it is narrated month by month, throughout 2001, skipping some days and stretching the others.
There are only a few, meticulously described characters and the (long) beginning of the book is devoted mainly to development of their psychological portraits.
Generally, this is a good book. It reads well, and it makes one think. It just lacks depth in the plot and it disappointed me a bit, as I said at the beginning, most likely because I expected too much. I think it is overhyped, but it does not mean it lacks value.
However, I do think that Claire Messud wrote a very decent book. First of all, it does become engrossing before the end. I am not sure if this is a characteristic of a great novel, but it is certainly positive.
The book starts very slowly and continues at a rather slow pace - important events come without being specially stressed or prepared. The structure of the novel adds to this impression - it is narrated month by month, throughout 2001, skipping some days and stretching the others.
There are only a few, meticulously described characters and the (long) beginning of the book is devoted mainly to development of their psychological portraits.
Generally, this is a good book. It reads well, and it makes one think. It just lacks depth in the plot and it disappointed me a bit, as I said at the beginning, most likely because I expected too much. I think it is overhyped, but it does not mean it lacks value.
