The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
I am applying the 50-page test to this one: I'm on page 57 and ambivalent. On the positive side, there's very good writing, keen observation, and an interesting setting (New Zealand in 1866, during a gold rush). On the negative side, I'd managed to overlook that this is a mystery and a ghost story, neither of which I enjoy; much of the historical detail is only slowing me down (constant references to specific styles, fabrics, accessories, etc.); the pacing so far is extremely slow and I've yet to invest in any of the characters or the plot. If this were a 250 or 300-page book, I'd likely finish anyway. But I'm not interested in committing to 830 right now.
4
3