This version of the book has been reviewed in English(792) by readers.
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What are readers saying about A Great and Terrible Beauty (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy)?
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A reader posted a review at 2009-11-14 00:37:37.
(Language: English)
  
The last of the three Young Adult book I had planned to read, A Great and Terrible Beauty also took me the longest to get into. I took my BA in British Literature and spent four years studying and reading novels and other works all written in the 19th and 18th century so I was excited to read a supernatural novel set in 1895. That said, it was the first modern novel I've ever read to take place in one of those eras. It's not the first time I've read about the English in India, either, but it took me a few chapters to reconcile the language and tone with the setting. It's most jarring in India, where Gemma interacts with the outside world, but once she's established at Spence, the insular community there makes it feel like this story could be set in any time.I couldn't connect with Gemma's friends - and hesitate to even call them so - in spite of the fact that Gemma herself comes to embrace them. I couldn't shake the first impressions they gave and I liked Gemma enough to hold that against them. Even so, I suppose it's accurate portrait of a lot of girls at that age. I had never experienced the extreme love/hate that can go hand-in-hand with high school friendship, but I have witnessed it among my younger sister's group. I appreciated that this novel was giving me a break from the romance in the previous ones. Granted that neither of those books placed a huge emphasis on their romances, but it was nice to explore Gemma's relationships with her mother and the girls of Spence for a change. Gemma starts to have feelings for the opposite sex during the novel, but it's very much in the background of the plot. The pressure of the marriage market is also explored during Beauty and while I can't really agree with the outcome of it (as relating to a certain character, anyway), I'm very glad that it was addressed at all. A Great and Terrible Beauty is one of those novels that I thought was just okay when I was reading it, but the more I think about it now, the more I enjoy it. There was just the right amount of focus on daily conflicts and supernatural conflicts and there's a heroine that's both relatable despite the century gap and also feels very real. 
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A reader posted a review at 2009-11-13 22:29:09.
(Language: English)
I would not recomment this for young girls. Quite sensual.
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A reader posted a review at 2009-11-09 19:47:59.
(Language: English)
Eh. Not as interesting as I thought it'd be. I was really looking forward to reading it. It kept my interest long enough to finish it but not long enough to get through the series.
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Kate posted a review at 2009-11-08 15:34:51.
(Language: English)
An interesting book about being young and innocent.
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Nicole posted a review at 2009-11-04 11:17:46.
(Language: English)
One of my favorite books. I regret the first time I casted it aside :P
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Annie posted a review at 2009-10-30 00:35:04.
(Language: English)
Awesomesr book
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Alexandra posted a review at 2009-10-11 13:34:46.
(Language: English)
I luved this book the wording was good and very descriptive i could picture it all out.
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mimis-KI posted a review at 2009-10-01 01:13:47.
(Language: English)
First off I have to say that this book was really hard for me to get into. I had to force myself to read it until about 5-7 chapters in. After it picked up speed, however, I found it really interesting and different from most books about teenage girls. It was refreshing and intelligent. The difference between the other realm and her actual life was so well defined and it balanced everything thing out nicely. I love how Gemma's family and the situations that happen to her and the other girls are so REAL. No fairy-tale nonsense in THIS book, so if that's what you're into it might be wiser to steer clear.
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paulee posted a review at 2009-09-29 18:54:00.
(Language: English)
just...WOW. really great book
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