Oh, I loved this book! It begins at the end, then quickly rewinds to the beginning, & makes you sit through every moment leading up to it. You learn to love, hate, & then love Caledonia. If you're a girl, you'll feel seen by what she experiences as a young girl attempting to figure things out. Her family is another story, what a strange bunch to live with, but rather interesting to analyze from the outside. &, who doesn't have a favorite, elder aunt who is the black sheep of the family? There is no escaping tragic melancholy vibes while reading this, so be forewarned. Because, unfortunately, the novel does end exactly how it begins.

Best read with a hot cup of something & a pastry!

Disclaimer: No tears were shed during the reading of this.

This is a collection of short stories written by Izumi & I found them to be really hit or miss, depending on which one you were reading. All the stories have certain motifs & themes in common with each other, & one even has a repeat background character. However, it isn't clear how connected these stories were written to be or were intended to be. There were a few stories that were a little anxiety-inducing, some that were comedic, & even one that I had to reread because I've got no idea what was happening. But, weirdly, that is one of the charms of this collection. They are just laid out for you to eat up, this isn't a fast read, it requires attention & time & patience.

While I did enjoy the majority of this book, especially the difficult writing style of the author & the complex stories she built in this most male-dominated genre... I likely won't reread it. But I don't regret reading it. It was crucial to me in relearning to enjoy reading, it forced me to slow down & become consumed in it. Not just consume the words & commit a little to memory, but devour them wholeheartedly as if it was air.

This book is where the "playing the long game" quote must have come from. It's a slow start, but the second half of the read is a lot quicker, because more things are happening. Prior to reading this, I advise researching who the author is & his connection to Lord Byron. The drama between the two is what made this book interesting to read.

Overall, I don't regret reading it, but I wouldn't reread it.

One reason that kept putting off this book was because of how THICK it is. However, I'm really glad that I finally tackled it! It's a novel I regularly suggest to others now. This epistolary book follows several characters as they solve the mystery of what is happening on their Coast, which is noticeably different than the movie adaptations.

For me, the weakest part of this novel was the plot- despite my star rating. The plot is difficult to follow at times due to the large cast of characters & the different types of entries that represent the chapters of the book. However, it does all end up tying in together, with a few loose ends. At certain parts, I found myself more interested in Reinfield than the other plotlines. Or, whenever Lucy appeared, later in the novel, I began wishing for her... inevitable end. What I will say, though, this book did have a few scary scenes! Which I hadn't expected from such an old novel.

Overall, I'm fond of this book & will most likely reread it.