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kami5's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Weaving characters into a mostly fact-oriented novel helped me keep track through the story and added some nice touches to a well-researched narrative.
lettucemendham's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
redheadorganist's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is captivating! I put off reading it for a long time because of it's length, but it went faster than I thought. Each chapter is a vignette highlighting some portion of the history of Salisbury. It's easy to follow the main families thanks to the family tree at the beginning of the book. As the book goes on, I found it rather challenging to keep up with all the politics and political figures and it started to drag for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia
bethanyellen73's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
valeriefm's review against another edition
I’m throwing in the towel. I got a good halfway through and “got the good” from this book.
topo_di_biblioteca's review against another edition
5.0
Totally unique. I've never read anything like it.
danilanglie's review against another edition
4.0
Another fun read! Very dense, with weak prose and one-dimensional characters. But I don't care, because sometimes it's so much fun to read a book where the setting is the main character. I had such a sense of time and place, reading this. My favorite chapter was probably the earlier ones, especially the one about Stonehenge. Really fascinating stuff! I also really liked the Roman section.
One of the themes in this book, and all of the others, is the idea of how a single family's circumstances can change over time. I loved watching how some families, like the Wilsons, could rise to such prosperity from their ancient, local identity as the river folk. And then the Godfreys, who start in prosperity, gain more, and then lose everything, before gaining some again towards the end.
I'll definitely keep reading everything this guy writes!
One of the themes in this book, and all of the others, is the idea of how a single family's circumstances can change over time. I loved watching how some families, like the Wilsons, could rise to such prosperity from their ancient, local identity as the river folk. And then the Godfreys, who start in prosperity, gain more, and then lose everything, before gaining some again towards the end.
I'll definitely keep reading everything this guy writes!
thesusanbrown's review against another edition
3.0
Pro tip: if you’re participating in a challenge to read 50 books in a year, maybe don’t pick a 900+ tome with tiny print...
jodiesackettbrown's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5