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There are currently 20 member reviews
for The Essex Serpent
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Ann B. (Bethlehem, PA)
The serpent in us
The Essex Serpent in many ways, like Strout's "Olive Kitteridge", details the human element in the characters as they relate to one main character. In this case it is Cora, a recent but not totally unhappy widow. Each character seems to have a story, and Cora becomes entangled in each of their lives to various degrees. This cast of eclectic characters is well developed and humanly flawed. Cora interacts with each in her own unique style, she is flawed and often without direction. The serpent, woven into the scenic historic background of the story, is in many ways a main character too, representing the social and political tide of the times, and wrapping itself around the characters.
While some readers found themselves focused on the social, religious and political belief systems of this time, I focused on the plight of the beautifully developed characters. Satisfying to the end.
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Shirin M. (Beverly Hills, CA)
Essex Serpent
Religion and reason sent against the backdrop of Victorian England provide the setting for a novel of mystery. While the story is interesting, I just couldn't get into the characters.
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Leslie D. (Le Roy, NY)
Not what I expected
The premise of faith (characterized by Anglican vicar Will Ransome) versus reason (naturalist Cora Seaborne) to explore the unexplained sea monster on the coast of England in late Victorian times is an appealing storyline, and there were many interesting conversations, observations, and descriptions along the way. For me, the story ended up being a little too long, with characters that—although unusual and even eccentric--didn't draw me in. Religion and science could have been more fully explored, especially since their importance to the main characters let them both down by the end of the story. Some aspects of the novel would provide rich fodder for discussion, particularly in terms of characters and the ideas of the era.
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Mary J. (La Quinta, CA)
Struggled to read
This book has many great reviews. However I found it difficult to get through. The characters are well developed but the storyline just didn't catch me.
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Deanna W. (Port Jefferson, NY)
Atmospheric
This novel is set in Victorian London and a village in Essex in the 1890's. It was not the usual and expected historic novel. I had difficulty getting involved with the unconventional characters and disjointed plot. Despite the exquisite and poetic language, I found myself detached and ultimately disinterested.
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Peggy K. (San Diego, CA)
Superstition
For me this is a rather dark and dour novel with a main character who is somewhat unappealing. Few of the characters really grab the reader. The main character is an intelligent young woman married to an abusive man and his death is a relief. The storyline however remains far too dark for this reader. Cora joins forces with a vicar to investigate the mysterious return of a legendary serpent but the story truly is about the Victorian era and its mores.
Older readers may find this book interesting for its discussion about the mid nineteenth century and superstition. Younger readers might find it a bit too dark and gothic.
Book clubs would concentrate on discussing how different this era was but how superstition and the natural world collided as the century headed towards its end into the modern world.
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