Customer Reviews: Read 56 more reviews...
 Another disappointed reader November 27, 2008
I started enthusiastically enough - after reading the back cover and normally loving historical novels I thought this would be a book to relish. The initial descriptions of London were powerful and enthralling but I might as well have stopped after the first dozen pages as it degenerated into a weak plotted, characterless but "nasty" little book. If I wanted to read about drug addicts and animal torturers but don't enjoy following a plot that is at least believable I would have been chuffed with my choice of book - but as that isn't my normal literary entertainment I completely wasted my money. My husband did only get about twenty pages in (without knowing my opinion)and chucked it in the bin.
My advice - don't bother, buy something else, it's not worth a quid let alone all the paper it wasted. Quite simply the worst book in so many different ways that I've read in years.
 Don't judge a book... November 25, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book starts well enough...and of course the cover is good too! The problem which becomes more apparent as the book goes on, is that there is not enough substance to the characters. If we don't understand what is going on in their minds (and during some of the long time gaps between chapters), how could we possibly care Gabriel Swift or what he does in London or Australia?
I can think of many better ways to spend time than reading this book!
Really Hardgoing! November 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I wish I had read all these reviews before I bought this book. I very very rarely give up on a book, but I am in "grave" danger of not finishing this one, and I hate doing that.
I think the author has tried too hard with his narrative, the prose is wordy, and doesn't get anywhere. If I read the phrase "for a long moment" again, I will throw the book out of the window.
I was looking forward to reading this book, but what a disappointment. I am not getting involved with the story or the characters at all, and really have a sense of wasting my time continuing to read it.
Beautiful cover though!
 It's not as bad as all that! November 1, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Gabriel Swift is an orphan who is sent to London by his guardian, in order to learn about anatomy and surgery from the eminent Mr Poll. Gabriel is unsettled and largely unable to connect with those around him , but he does manage to form a companionship with Charles, another surgeon, who introduces him to the seamier side of London life. Gabriel also becomes acquainted with Lucan, a charismatic and dangerous resurrectionist, who seems to be able to blackmail and intimidate many of those he comes into contact with.
When Gabriel's apprenticeship fails, he must find other means of supporting himself (and his opium addiction.)As he falls further and further into addiction and despair, Gabriel must take desperate measures in order to survive. It is at this point that the narrative becomes begins to reflect how disconnected he is from those around him.
I don't think this book is nearly as bad as some of the other reviewers are saying. It is true that the story is a bit meandering, but really the novel is about one man's journey rather than being plot driven. The only things that I did find incredibly irritating was that Gabriel constantly mentions the meaningful looks he has observed between people and his interpretations of what they might mean. This is clearly ridiculous, and because it happens all the time it becomes annoying. However, I thought in general the book was very readable; although perhaps it would be better to avoid if you're either depressed or squeamish!
I give up! October 26, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
After two attempts to get into this book, reading it twice from the beginning, I give up! I thought I would try something different to my usual read and was drawn to the book's setting and fancied a bit of gore! However, the plot is weak, it takes so long to get off the ground and you are left flicking through it to find the next bit of gore that the book allegedly promises!
The worst thing about it is the characters. I thought I was being a bit dense at first for getting confused with who was who and I re-read pages and pages of it to try to get my head around it! The problem is that none of the characters are likeable or memorable. 'Mr this' and 'Mr that' all merge into one big 'Mr' and it is frustrating!
I gave up about a third of the way through, before Gabriel even descends into the 'underworld' of body snatching. I just stopped caring to be honest and couldn't be bothered forcing myself to read any more of this shallow dross.
|
