Ever heard or read the book A Discovery
of Witches by Deborah Harkness? Well, many say that it is an amazing book
with great details and I agree that it does have a great use of detail to
describe the themes and setting…but ever heard of the quotes “Our life is
frittered away by detail... simplify, simplify.” by Henry David Thoreau? Well for me, what I think of this book is
that it is too much details, and that it took a whole whopping 579 pages to
finish, it really dragged the story on to a point that it just got boring and
finally the details really made this book confusing from a prospective of a
teenager (who has to finish reading this book for English class).
Now to start off, A Discovery of Witches is really a book that has great details from
the beautiful description of the Bodleian Library at Oxford University where
Diana, who is a historian, stays all the time. This really help the readers put
themselves into that setting and make the library come to life with “Elizabethan
reading desk…three ascending bookshelves...scarred writing surface…gothic
windows…. coffered ceilings” (2). But, this book is just too overly detailed
with some parts being unnecessary to some parts where I just have to ask did I
miss something or what? Especially with the part where Matthew said they were married
"Did I miss something ?" I finally asked.
"When were we married ?"
Matthew's eyes lifted. "The moment I came home and said I loved you. It wouldn't stand up in court perhaps, but as far as vampires are concerned, we're wed." (354)
Also, sometimes I can't help but wonder, isn't the author just giving Diana a little too much abilities, like she couldn't decide on this a few but must give Diana every single ability to have her become like the "unbeatable" female protagonist, but is still just a damsel in distress waiting for Matthew to save her. Just like from Truth,Beauty,Freedom and Books where they commented on how "feels like the author is just vomiting up words. The book's almost 600 pages long and it isn't because the plot's complicated." .In addition,with the book being so long and detailed, the author really dragged the story, especially at the ending where it was made obvious that the book was going to have a sequel to it. Even from other book reviews blogs such as The Washingtonpost "The ending, in which Diana and Matthew beat a hasty retreat, made me wish the book had started there" just screams that the book was really too dragged on. Lastly, as a fantasy, paranormal lover who just love vampires, magic and historical stories, I haven't been this unsatisfied since reading Twilight! Since this book is made for adult, the words are quite complicated to understand, especially with all those science words such as "mtDNA" where no teen would understand if they don't take science (and the author didn't even do a good job explaining what it means and I had a hard time understanding all those talk about DNA, genetics..etc). Not only was the book confusing, but it was like reading an mature version of Bella and Edward that just made me wish the story was over already.
Overall, I have to say the book was a disappointment, from it being too overly detailed, to the story dragging on and on without anything really happening except for all the wine and difference places Matthew took to hide Diana from the Congregation and all the confusing detail and language really made this book too much to handle. Details is something extremely important in a story to help make it come alive, but too much detail is just way too confusing!
"Did I miss something ?" I finally asked.
"When were we married ?"
Matthew's eyes lifted. "The moment I came home and said I loved you. It wouldn't stand up in court perhaps, but as far as vampires are concerned, we're wed." (354)
Also, sometimes I can't help but wonder, isn't the author just giving Diana a little too much abilities, like she couldn't decide on this a few but must give Diana every single ability to have her become like the "unbeatable" female protagonist, but is still just a damsel in distress waiting for Matthew to save her. Just like from Truth,Beauty,Freedom and Books where they commented on how "feels like the author is just vomiting up words. The book's almost 600 pages long and it isn't because the plot's complicated." .In addition,with the book being so long and detailed, the author really dragged the story, especially at the ending where it was made obvious that the book was going to have a sequel to it. Even from other book reviews blogs such as The Washingtonpost "The ending, in which Diana and Matthew beat a hasty retreat, made me wish the book had started there" just screams that the book was really too dragged on. Lastly, as a fantasy, paranormal lover who just love vampires, magic and historical stories, I haven't been this unsatisfied since reading Twilight! Since this book is made for adult, the words are quite complicated to understand, especially with all those science words such as "mtDNA" where no teen would understand if they don't take science (and the author didn't even do a good job explaining what it means and I had a hard time understanding all those talk about DNA, genetics..etc). Not only was the book confusing, but it was like reading an mature version of Bella and Edward that just made me wish the story was over already.
Overall, I have to say the book was a disappointment, from it being too overly detailed, to the story dragging on and on without anything really happening except for all the wine and difference places Matthew took to hide Diana from the Congregation and all the confusing detail and language really made this book too much to handle. Details is something extremely important in a story to help make it come alive, but too much detail is just way too confusing!
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