What readers think of The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise, plus links to write your own review.

Having enjoyed "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" and "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society," I was pleased with this story, too, as this storytelling style is entertaining. Stuart's novel progresses at a comfortable pace, and includes serious, touching, and amusing adventures.

After reading several other readers reviews, it seems that people either absolutely LOVE this book, or are not taken by it. I fall into the latter category. It was a clever idea, had some fun quirky, moments, but I felt that the author tried so hard to be clever that it lost most of its charm. Julia Stuart certainly has a way with words but she went overboard on this one.

It appears that most BookBrowse readers really liked this book. I tried. Really, I did! With the news always so full of the current wars, scandal in high places, natural disasters and murders du jour, I thought it would be fun and relaxing to read a gentle story about three different love affairs in the Tower now, and pick up a few tidbits of history besides.

And yet, I thought this was a big yawn. Ms. Stuart was trying to emulate the style of a Victorian novel, I presume, but I found it distracting and tedious that she kept repeating some things over and over. Perhaps she is in love with her words or maybe it's careless editing, but I don't feel it necessary to be reminded every few pages that the counter in the London Underground Lost Property Office is original, the entire official name of the heroine's place of employment, the official rank of every character or the age of the tortoise. I did like that two of the love affairs were left to readers' imagination, but not enough to make me imagine I enjoyed reading this book.

Sigh.

This is a very charming novel! Each of the quirky characters has his or her own storyline and the writer has you routing for them all. This book will make you smile, and quite possibly giggle, while reading it, but also will tug at your heartstrings. I highly recommend it!

A fantastic story told by a very talented writer with a gift of picking ideal adjectives. To wit: "capacious nostrils" and "mouthful of humiliation" -- and that's in the first 10 pages. I wish I could pay a visit to Ms. Stuart's Tower!

Being an avowed Anglophile, I was prepared to love this book. Instead it seemed to me to be a book that was trying too hard to be oh so charming. It was fun to read factoids about the history of the Tower of London but there was so much going on in the book that it was hard to focus on their characters, much less develop a compelling interest in their issues.

It is a quirky, light hearted novel and a delightful read. I think it would appeal more to readers that like authors such as Alexander McCall Smith. It is not a mystery but revolves around characters of a certain place--the Tower of London. After reading this book, I have an entirely new view of the Tower. I can't wait to revisit it.

A delightful book, perfect for a summer day on the porch. Sweet, quirky and bittersweet, it held my interest and left me wanting to know what happens after it ends!