June book club - The Essex Serpent

I have just finished reading this book. Sadly I wasn't lucky enough to win a copy,but I am very glad I bought it anyway. The atmosphere the author created really drew me in, and I felt that Frankie, in particular, was a really well drawn character and his autism was part of his character not an affliction.
There were aspects of Victorian life I was only slightly aware of so I guess I will be looking at the Victorian history section of the library now!

I was lucky to receive an electronic copy just in time for a short holiday and this story has kept me thoroughly engrossed.Thank you. I was expecting to feel frustrated by a story of repressed emotions and religious and superstitious nonsense. This was far from the case; there is such a variety of characters and interlinked relationships combined with insights to the social history of the time, that I came away feeling that I wanted to read more from this period, both novels and factual perhaps. I can't say that I felt drawn to any character in particular, but I believe that this is the book's strength, if that makes sense, not drawing you into a single love story, but developing many different types of love and friendship that are all equally important. I felt that the ending was perfect, with just enough tying up of loose ends without appearing contrived. Made me wish we still lived in the era of letter writing!

I have just started the book and am finding it difficult to get into, it hasn't drawn me in very well, a lot of prose, very little dialogue which I find hard to stay with, and a mixture of characters. I shall continue however, and return with a final comment when I have finished it.

Persevere caz! Its well worth it.

Thanks Jane, will do.

I found this book quite hard to get through, the style of writing is not one I prefer. However, it was interesting and made quite a change for me. I would like to ask the author if she finds it easy to remain in this particular style and is it one she I'll continue with.

I was given the book as a Father's Day present and am about one third of the way through. In the first few pages the style seemed rather overwrought, and rather than Dickens or Bram Stoker, as one of the blurbs suggested, I was thinking of Precious Bane and Cold Comfort Farm, and then of Baring-Gould's Mahalah's Country with its description of the Essex saltings.

But I am now fully in tune with the author's style and greatly enjoying it.

I agree with mbody. I have now finished reading it and am glad that I did. I did keep wondering what was going to happen and it was different to my expectation. Thanks again.

Thank you for sending me a copy of the book. I have now finished reading it. As I said before the cover is very eyecatching - I can't stop looking at it. I did miss out on the matching bookmark though! I found the book quite difficult to read - far too wordy - although I did enjoy the story and especially the letters - and I had to finish it to find out what happened in the end!

I have tried to download this book several times with no luck. I am sorry that i will not be able to read this book and review it.

I really looked forward to reading this book. The cover design is beautiful and the plaudits are effusive.
I didn’t warm to the language in the introductory chapters: it seemed to me overblown, overthought, overworked. If I hadn’t agreed to read and respond for this thread, I should probably have given up at this point. However, I persevered and grew to appreciate the fine detail of the author’s observations and her meticulous attention to detail.
The last few books I’ve read have been page turners (Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith, Robert Galbraith...story tellers all). By contrast, this book made me slow down and savour the author’s knowledge, intelligence and linguistic expertise. She had clearly done her research on a Victorian age so like our own in so many ways, with issues of housing crises, intolerable rents, political sharp practice and social upheavals. Her depiction of Stella’s tuberculosis was particularly well portrayed.
However, and this is a purely personal response, I failed to engage with any of the main characters. I didn’t empathise with them and they simply didn’t leap off the page for me. At the end, I asked myself: if there was to be a sequel, would I want to read it? And, apart from the fact that I should like to have seen how Martha’s life developed, the answer was no. From the praise heaped on this book by others though, mine may well be a minority view. And I wish the author all the best.
My question for Sarah Perry concerns her PhD in Creative Writing. Looking back at your writing before and since, what would you say has been the main impact of this on your work?

Thank you for the e book,which I found interesting rather than hugely enjoyable.An excellent depiction of Victorian times and life,with strong women characters,it examines the nature of love and friendship well.The political themes echo down the years to the present day and remind us that the same problems still exist.The fear of the serpent seems a little fantastical in this modern world but don't we have our own "serpents" in one form or another?There will always be something to fear.
However,the book was not a page turner for me and I thought that the characters were not well-rounded enough.That said,Frankie's autistic nature was well portrayed.Sarah Perry's research was meticulous,which added a real sense of the Victorian era.

When I first started this book I thought I would really enjoy it all but a few chapters in and I was waiting for something to happen that would make me want to keep turning the pages. I had to make an effort to carry on reading and it did begin to get my interest again.
I loved the cover design.

A well written descriptive novel. An unusual storyline which I'm afraid didn't give me a 'can't put it down' feeling. I enjoyed it in that the characters were interesting. I was particularly amused by Francis, as I have an autistic son, his funny little ways made me smile. As has been said before the author has researched very thoroughly every aspect of the story from the location, you could almost feel you were there, to the difficulties and traits of the characters. The era in which the story was set and the social happens therein. I usually like historical novels but although I would not criticise the excellent writing, the story for me fell a bit flat. Thank you for the opportunity of having read it.

Having finished the book a day or so after my previous post, I found that my enjoyment had somewhat tailed off. Not sure why, but the fact that the letters came as a relief suggests that it was the style that grated at times.

A bit like a Julian Barnes novel: to be admired more than enjoyed.

I have found the book very atmospheric and have enjoyed being transported to another place and time with interesting and sympathetic characters. The exploration of the tensions between religion, science and superstition is fascinating too.

Thank you for this book. The dust cover is lovely I agree. I found it hard to get into and I think I would have given up if I hadn't been given a copy to review. I didn't feel I got to know the characters although Francis was well portrayed. It did give an insight into life in Victorian times but overall I am sorry but I wouldn't recommend it.

To be honest, I just didn't get the book read this month which sounds crazy but its true. A combination of not starting it until far to late due to having just started another one when it arrived, family duties, busy days and not being able to keep awake at night when I do most of my reading - must try harder!
Thank you for the really lovely looking book though, it's been on my bedside table and I've admired it every day. Going on hols in a week and it's going with me! Thank you again.

This story is set in the Victorian period. It is an unusual and interesting novel and I enjoyed it very much. I particularly liked the style in which it was written. I have only just finished it on the deadline. Thank you for sending me the ebook version, I did have trouble downloading it but it was worth the effort.

I have struggled to read this right from the beginning, and it didn't get any easier. Too wordy for a start. The references to Mary Anning made me compare it to Tracy Chevalier's book Remarkable Creature, which was far more readable, set with a similar theme and in same era. Sorry, although she has obviously done a great deal of research, it was not for me.

I have just finished this book and, like others, found it hard going at times.
I have lived in Colchester for over a decade and recognised a lot of the settings. Both the George and The Red Lion are still thriving hotels. I had to look up St Nicholas Church and found that it was demolished in the early 50s to make way for ugly modern shops. The earthquake is a much talked about piece of local history.
I believe Aldwinter is fictional but typical of parts of the Blackwater estuary, I could believe that a creature could be lurking out there,
I was drawn in by the 'will they, won't they' story of Cora and Will and was interested in the medical history. But I didn't get very excited by any of the other characters as I don't think any were dealt with with enough depth.

I was too late to apply for copy of 'The Essex Serpent" but was intrigued by the story! THe author, Sarah Perry ,lives in Norwich so there has been much publicity in local book shops and local press, and I was hooked....literally!!!
What a fantastic read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Late Victorian morals and social problems seem so relevant now. I was fascinated by the relationship between Will and Cora, and Frankie and Stella. The vivid descriptions of the countryside and waterways really enthralled me, as did the disturbing descriptions of slum dwelling In London, It is so evident that an enormous of research went into producing this brilliant novel.Well done Sarah Perry,and I am about to start 'After me comes the flood' her first novel

I have just finished this book. I am jealous of the Gransneters who received an actual book, I was one of the people who had trouble downloading it to Kindle and was sent a copy by email. My Kindle decided it was a document and always took me back to the beginning every time I opened it. Very frustrating!
However, it did mean that once I started to read, I was reluctant to put it down!
Not my usual genre. I enjoyed the detailed and descriptive nature of the writing. I'm not sure that the characters held my interest as much as they should have, almost like they drifted along to their conclusions. Interaction seemed more likely to be by letter rather than face to face (or was that the Victorian way?)
Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Thank you for my copy,I could not download it to start with but was successful in the end.
I enjoyed learning more about Victorian life.
Sorry did not find it an easy book to read.

I also found it a little difficult to get into but found it easier as I read on. Interesting things happened, characterisation was good and the Essex Sepant idea was intriguing and did make me want to read on. Did find the ending fizzled out a little but mostly enjoyable.