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There are currently 31 member reviews
for The Gifts
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Lydia M. (Richland, OR)
A work of art.
Liz Hyder has painted us a vivid world with words, she is a magician, using her story to create a world you can feel, see and breathe. So absorbing, as to take over your everyday. She was purposeful in the creation of characters. There are no wasted words, no characters that are not pivotal to the story. All leading to a finale the reader does not see coming. You are rewarded with a vision that surpasses all expectations.
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Diana C. (Boca Raton, FL)
A remarkable tale
As the author explains in her end of book conversation, The Gifts is a book about many things. The lush Victorian-era English backdrop is the perfect setting for a serious, heartwarming and oftentimes fantastical account of diversely gifted women navigating through the suffocating constraints of a patriarchal society. This includes a character based on the real life daughter of a freed slave and a plantation owner. It is exquisitely told and the brilliant chapter structure had me wishing this book was 1,000 pages long.
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Lorraine D. (Lacey, WA)
Mystical, Tense, Capitvating
"The Gifts" by Liz Hyder is a mystical, tense, captivating glimpse into the lives of four women whose diverse paths or stories fatefully cross. The events occur in19th century England when women had few rights and male status and competition was supreme. "The Gifts" explores prejudices, the influence of religious beliefs when distorted, and the impact of manic greed and ego. The unfolding story is beautifully and sensitively presented - a page turner from start to end. Excellent read!
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Laura C. (Woodworth, LA)
The Gifts
Although a major theme of The Gifts is storytelling, to me the story actually gets off to a slow, even confusing start. But the reader who sticks with it will not be disappointed! Four talented, determined, intelligent women, way ahead of their time, eventually team up in 1840s London to right a terrible wrong being perpetrated by a surgeon blinded by greed and fame. He discovers a woman with huge wings on her shoulders (a "fallen angel" perhaps) and sees only the acclaim and fortune that he will enjoy when he reveals her to the world. Character development is rich and the descriptions of nature throughout add much to the story. The ending is brilliantly constructed and immensely satisfying. The Gifts should be a big hit with book clubs. I absolutely loved it. Just have a little patience at the beginning!
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Julie B. (Fort Worth, TX)
Plots and subplots
I have to admit the opening left me a little uncertain if I'd like this book but am so glad I turned the page. I devoured it in about four days. The main story line was so imaginative with well rounded characters and included sub plots that helped you see more into the characters. The dialogue is very good for the period when others might make it sound silly. Terrific!
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Sandi W. (East Moline, IL)
Great Debut Book
I am usually leery of books that come from too many points of view and was therefore leery of this book. However I think the author did a great job in keeping the protagonists separated and involved in their own stories until the time to bring them all together.
You won't be able to put this book down. It has a number of things that I like in a book. It has short direct chapters that keep you turning pages. Magical realism, historically based in London, strong women and a good ending to name just a few of its attributes.
This is essentially the tale of four females struggling in a male dominated Victorian England to find their place in society. Great debut.
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Judy G. (Carmel, IN)
The Gifts in the Rearview Mirror
It took me a couple of weeks to complete the reading of this book. It was enjoyable and I particularly liked the short chapters. The skipping around between characters was easier to follow using the short chapter approach. The writing was consistently good. I especially like the character Annie Meake, the long suffering wife of Dr. Meake. She displayed the kind of loving patience that many people display despite misbehaving spouses. What was missing for me at the end was some kind of impactful meaning behind the use of angels in the plot. Yes, angels are mysterious, heavenly creatures that most anyone would find intriguing; however, that was all the storytelling was about—mysterious, heavenly creatures that would benefit only one man. For me it cheapened the writing and narrative that was good to the point that at the end my reaction was "so what"? I did not have takeaways from this book.
