Overall, what did you think of The Story Collector? (No spoilers)

Overall, what did you think of The Story Collector? (No spoilers)

It was excellent. The story kept my interest and I thought it was quite creative.

I loved it! The folklore woven into the story wasn't forced.

I think it would make a perfect Hallmark movie:starts at Christmas, lovely Irish people, picturesque cottage, sad widower, friendly teen-age daughter, artist who finds herself.

I thought it read more like a YA book. The writing style of the two narratives were identical. To call one of them a diary was absurd.

I enjoyed the book because I knew nothing of Irish lore and fairies so it was all new and informative.

I enjoyed the novel. The setting was magical. The characters of Oran and Sarah were very believable and their journey towards each other was sweet.

I thought it was a little too predictable in many ways. The attraction between Harold and Anna and then Sarah and Oran also. We knew that "Master George" was going to turn out to be a bad person. I think those parts of the story were a bit stereotypical.

It took me a few chapters to be drawn in. But once Sarah arrived and moved to the cottage, I was entranced. I loved Anna’s story and Sarah’s. Why not believe in faeries and leprechauns.! There is magic in the world. We just need to open our minds to it.

I had trouble getting into it but kept on and finally got hooked.

5 stars
Being a mystery, crime, fantasy type I decided to gamble on this book based on its Title. I figured it had to do maybe with books and I like novels about book writing or book collectors. I was not disappointed. This is a well written “story”, easy to follow and enjoy. It has some mystery, a bit of fantasy, and a bit of a love story.

I enjoyed the story from beginning to end, especially the folklore, history, and culture of Ireland. It is a beautiful tale of love and loss, mystery and intrigue. I quickly selected this book when it became available based on how much I enjoyed The Lost Bookshop, which I selected to read with my Book Club. We loved it.

janeb - it sure would make an amazing Hallmark movie!!!!! What a great idea :)

I just loved this book; if you read my post about "what do you know/think about fairies" you'll understand why I loved it so much. Also, my heritage is from Cork County, Ireland and I hope to travel there this spring.

It was an enjoyable, light read and the pages turned quickly.

It was a sweet bit of fluff, but enjoyable. I agree it would make a nice Hallmark movie, so predictable

I loved it. The endings of the two storylines were quite different. And it really outlined how people grieve in different ways and those ways are perceived by others.

I selected it because I had just finished the Lost Bookshop and really enjoyed it. This one did not disappoint.

I loved reading about Ireland and learning about the environment, the beauty of the countryside, and life in the village. I was not familiar with the myths and folklore of the fairies, so it was informative in that respect, and I found it interesting to see the differences in the opportunities and expectations of women in the one hundred years from 1910 to 2010. I’m very glad that I live in a time when women have more independence, and yet, relationships are just as important in both time periods.

I liked it. Enjoyed the folklore. As others have stated, it should be considered YA. Found it at times, confusing, is it 1910 or 2010 era??????

After reading Evie Woods first book "The Lost Bookshop" I was hoping for a better storyline and not what would be the expected outcomes. There just was not the same depth to the plot with this one.

I really liked the book.
Loved to read about the folklore, myths and fairies in Ireland, some of which I did not know. It held my interest and was an enjoyable read. A good book for any book club.
It was great to read the differences between 1910 and 2010 for women.
Loved the friendships that developed between the characters. Good ending.

I really liked Anna’s character and enjoyed reading her diary. Sarah’s character seemed a bit contrived at times. I enjoyed the Irish culture and folklore in the book.

I liked the book, its a nice story and have recommended it to others. I like stories that go between different time periods.

I loved the story. Each chapter was in the POV of a different character and that helped me understand each character

I loved The Story Collector. Evie Wood's stories capture Ireland's charm from the people to the fairy stories. This story seamless weaves the English/ Irish Home rule history with the Fairy folklore.

I know I am in the minority here, but I was disappointed with the book.

I didn't feel an emotional connection to any of the characters. Sara entered a romantic situation too soon after leaving her husband, which was problematic, of course.

The writing style and character development did not resonate with me. I expected more from the book, something more magical since fairies were supposed to be involved. And it just took long for anything interesting to happen. Also, the diary entries didn't feel distinct from the rest of the narrative.

This was a like (not a love) for me. I enjoyed the story but felt several parts of it were a bit hokey. Perhaps I didn't get caught up in it as much as I should have. I enjoyed reading about Ireland and the local people. Sarah's story in particular was a bit of a stretch for my interest.
I think this book would be better billed as young adult.

I found the interactions between the Irish country folk and the fairies fascinating. My Mother a very practical woman of Irish heritage would talk of the “little people”. I’m motivated now to research the history of their beliefs in the other world.
As for the book it seemed to follow a set formula of romance novels.

The Story Collector was an OK read. The early chapters were a bit of a slog. I am glad I persevered to the end.

I really enjoyed this book. Easy to read, scenic, Irish folklore, great characters.

I agree with everyone who "liked" but did not love the book. An intriguing title about a fascinating county, but promising more that was delivered. I discovered that I would have really liked to read Harold's finished thesis.

I loved spending time in Ireland with the fairies. It was magical.

I liked the story; two timelines with each chapter giving the date so reading it was not confusing as to which timeline you were in. My only criticism is the diary. If you say you are reading someone's diary then it should read like a diary not like a book. So that was a little annoying. I would suggest readers ignore the fact that the author said it was a diary and just read it as another story.

I LOVED this book! And I believe that part of my love for this novel is rooted in a very strong belief that I have that certain books 'find' you when you most need them. I spent a great deal of time recently in the trauma unit ICU in a local hospital. My husband was injured and many people may know that there is a lot of anxiety-filled 'waiting time' and I found this story to be exactly what I needed to distract me and make me feel better.... better equipped emotionally to handle the stress and anxiety of the situation I found myself in.

I loved it. When I finished I felt happy and thought it was magical. Sad that Hazel and Harold never saw each other again, but in that time it was not unusual. Afterall, when my Grandmother left Ireland for the States she never saw her family again. So many who cross the Pond never see those they've left behind again and before cheap phone calls their only means of contact was through snail mail.

I loved The Storyteller. I am fascinated by tradition and folklore and mystery. It was a fun and quick read.

I loved the book and the characters. As a child, I was a fervent fairy believer and encouraged my daughter to believe in them. She grew up with a vivid imagination and has had two books of speculative fiction published and won an important science fiction poetry prize. My point is that imagination should be encouraged...beyond Santa Claus who is really rather a nasty man when you think about the children he ignores.

I liked the choice of tales told in this book...it did not portray the fairies as nymphs with wings and wands, but often as protective or as vindictive, vengeful creatures who could do a great deal more than remove one's tooth from under one's pillow.

I know the difference between superstition, paganism, faith, and science, and I know
people who bury a figure of St. Anthony in the garden when they cannot sell a house

Interestingly, when Queen Elizabeth of England died, the bees were informed as a matter of course. Don't discount the bees - recently in the L.A. Times it was reported that bees had killed two horses and badly injured their owner who was hospitalized. There was no report on what the owner had done wrong!