Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

14 reviews

lucindacreek's review against another edition

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mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I may be influenced by Weir’s film adaptation (which I had to study for year 12 Literature), but Picnic at Hanging Rock completely blew me away. Lindsay has such a dreamy, vivid way of writing and I loved how she was able to make me feel like I was one with the book. 

If you like your novels wrapped up with a neat bow, then I’m afraid this story may not be for you. Interpretations are very open-ended, but I kinda like that about this novel. I loved studying this book because I could have my own theories on what happened behind the disappearance of the girls. Murder? Kidnapping? Running away? Aliens? All of these were valid points that my Lit classmates came up with (yes, I’m serious.)

All in all, you should give this novel a try if you love mysterious novels that involve overbearing figures in the early 1900s, Australia.
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foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

My first Australian gothic! This book was filled with descriptions of college and aristocratic life in direct contrast with the natural landscape of the outback. The building tension from the outset to the aftermath of the picnic was well done in building dread, and you could really feel everything crumbling apart before your eyes. It felt a bit like a fever dream as you’re taken along on this atmospheric ride with the characters, like you’re right there with them. So glad I finally read this one and I’m keen to watch the movie/show adaptations of it.
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jsmnhk's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A period piece shrouded in mystery. Most of the characters are female. It truly leaves you guessing until the end.
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crowyhead's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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mondovertigo's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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antares's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

this book is cosmic horror and you can't change my mind
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picnicatthehangingtree's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Beautifully written and atmospheric
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rebeccafarren's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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mfrisk's review against another edition

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mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I wish I liked this read more than I did. The backstory of the book itself and even the movie and tv series to me are far more interesting and add more depth to the story. This book has beautiful writing and is very visual in nature but this and the mystery itself is filled down by all the side plots and elements I didn’t care about. I wish this had been a novella and that the focus was narrowed to less characters. In essence this book had a good base idea to it but the pacing was incredibly slow and didn’t take the idea much further. 
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kumquats87's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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