Scan barcode
lucindacreek's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Suicide, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
tacochelle's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
3 girls and a teacher from an Australian private academy disappear after climbing up to the titular Hanging Rock during their school picnic. No bodies are ever found, and the event haunts everyone remotely connected to it, some more tragically than others. There's a hint of something supernatural about the whole thing, but it's never confirmed. While the truth of the mystery was published decades later, I don't thinks it's needed. It'd less about the mystery and more about how their absence affects their world. A little slow, but really interesting, and weird enough to be right up my alley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape, Blood, and Vomit
antares's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Fire/Fire injury
picnicatthehangingtree's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Rape, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
floatinthevoid's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Such a perfect summer read!!
It has been a while since I read a third perspective book, and it's a delight to be able to read one that is enjoyable. I like the storytelling of the narrator. It's the kind of voice like a bard telling tales from road to road about a mystery that happened on Hanging Rock.
It has been a while since I read a third perspective book, and it's a delight to be able to read one that is enjoyable. I like the storytelling of the narrator. It's the kind of voice like a bard telling tales from road to road about a mystery that happened on Hanging Rock.
"The soft summer air caressed and healed like water. They wept a little, embraced long and tenderly, abandoning themselves after the first impassioned greetings to the silent luxury of sorrow shared. There was so much to be said, so little that ever could or would be said. The shadow of the Rock lay with an almost physical weight upon their hearts."
I must say tho, there's a change of pronouns in the narrator's voice so suddenly that it just make no sense. Using "I" when there's no indication that the all knowing narrator is involved in the story, a little bit weird. But even then, the story is well-paced. The story that happens feel slow, but my reading experience is not. I dare say if I don't get distracted by real life things I can finish this in a day.
I love the vibe of this book. If you're familiar with dark fairycore aesthetic, you might like this book. It's happened in a village near the forest so there will be trees, cliffs, white gowns, long hair, boarding school, female friendship, and also the haunting air of the night, the silver moonlight, disapperances, maladies, etc. And this all is very vividly described by the author with intricate details about nature without it being too boring. Love love the vibe so much.
Other things I want to mention is thatthe mystery aspect of this book is mystery for the sake of mystery, and not something that is intended to be solved. In one hand, I find that makes the book can be categorized as a light read, as there's actually not much clues are given so the readers can't solve yet that's why readers are brought to just enjoye the journey.
On the other hand, I was expecting more things to happen. So that's that.
This is the kind of book that I will really get lost into if I have all my leisure time in my hand. A solid and pleasing read!
"It is probably just as well for our nervous equilibrium that such cataclysms of personal fortune are usually disguised as ordinary everyday occurrences, like the choice of boiled or poached eggs for breakfast."
I must say tho, there's a change of pronouns in the narrator's voice so suddenly that it just make no sense. Using "I" when there's no indication that the all knowing narrator is involved in the story, a little bit weird. But even then, the story is well-paced. The story that happens feel slow, but my reading experience is not. I dare say if I don't get distracted by real life things I can finish this in a day.
I love the vibe of this book. If you're familiar with dark fairycore aesthetic, you might like this book. It's happened in a village near the forest so there will be trees, cliffs, white gowns, long hair, boarding school, female friendship, and also the haunting air of the night, the silver moonlight, disapperances, maladies, etc. And this all is very vividly described by the author with intricate details about nature without it being too boring. Love love the vibe so much.
Other things I want to mention is that
On the other hand, I was expecting more things to happen. So that's that.
This is the kind of book that I will really get lost into if I have all my leisure time in my hand. A solid and pleasing read!
"It is probably just as well for our nervous equilibrium that such cataclysms of personal fortune are usually disguised as ordinary everyday occurrences, like the choice of boiled or poached eggs for breakfast."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, and Blood
Minor: Rape and Trafficking
cozylifewithabby's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I read this as part of my reading around the world challenge. It was just the right amount of mystery, supernatural, horror, and descriptions of 1900 Australia. Also, it's only 200 pages. Definitely worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexism, Suicide, and Gaslighting
Minor: Rape and Pregnancy
thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape
sarah984's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.0
This book is a tale of the unsolved disappearance of a group of schoolgirls on a picnic trip and how that shock reverberates through their community and changes other characters’ lives forever.
The points of view are all well done in terms of having different voices and showing which aspects of what had happened mattered to them. I understand from the introduction that there were originally supernatural elements that were toned down for publication and I think that was a good call.
Due to the setting and the publication date, there are a few things that seem pretty dated, including racially insensitive language and a weird obsession with bullying one of the children for being fat.
The points of view are all well done in terms of having different voices and showing which aspects of what had happened mattered to them. I understand from the introduction that there were originally supernatural elements that were toned down for publication and I think that was a good call.
Due to the setting and the publication date, there are a few things that seem pretty dated, including racially insensitive language and a weird obsession with bullying one of the children for being fat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Blood
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, and Murder
maduvanthivenkatesan's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Trafficking