I am curious to see how this play is done on stage. It is fast paced but also seems to have a drag. I loved the novel and love the story. I am curious to one day direct this play or see it performed. ( )

Oh my gosh, I'm so glad that's over!! I was so incredibly bored!
The thing is, I don't think this is a bad book exactly, it just SO wasn't my thing.

THE PLOT

Ummm... I actually have no clue what the plot of this even was... Something about music and a bunch of random boys. Basically.

So... the plot was pretty weak. It was *just* compelling enough that I wanted to finish it, but for the most part it was BORING!

Also it was sort of confusing... I'm not quite sure WHAT happened at the end...
I think that it was Toby and Aaron, but like... how exactly did he survive getting thrown into the ocean in the middle of nowhere?! And also how did they get of the ship? And I'm confused!

THE WRITING

I think Coram Boy was well written, but it was sort of flowery and old fashioned, and wasn't very engaging. It fit the book, for sure, and it did help get the setting right, but... It made the book even more tedious. Bleh.

THE CHARACTERS

Normally, even if a book is weak in the other areas, the characters can save a book for me, and since this wasn't really plot driven, that's what I was expecting. Yeah, no. That didn't happen.

The characters were SO dry. They all had about as much personality as cardboard. Actually no, scratch that, I think cardboard has more personality. I was NOT impressed.
I could never even keep the characters straight, BECAUSE THEY HAD NO PERSONALITY!!!!!!

Also, they all acted way too old. Like, the tweens were passionately in love for the rest of their lives, and the eight year olds acted at least twelve. How about no?

OVER ALL

Bleh! Bleh, bleh, bleh! I think this was a decent book, but it wasn't for me. If this is the style of books you like, I'm sure this is a great book, it's just not the style I enjoy. I wish I'd liked it more than I did, but those characters!!!! Ugh. ( )

A fabulous Dickensian novel that keeps the reader engrossed in hte struggle between the upper and lower classes of society. ( )

Sort of enjoyed this one but it was very different to what I was expecting. I thought it would be set in some exotic location.

Didn't like all the different characters' points of view, felt like some were kind of unnecessary, like the Prologue.

Felt like the author took a few liberties with the time and social attitudes, such as Alexander and Melissa with Aaron.

Interested in learning more about the Coram House, how it worked and what happened to it.

Liked the way the book looked, it's slightly smaller than a regular paperback. Made it feel like something a bit different. ( )

This book is a deep and insightful one. I found myself getting lost in the pages, because the story was so compelling.
Strictly speaking this is a children's/young adult book (which I had to read for Uni), but I found that it was very engaging and I think adult readers will enjoy it just as much as younger readers.

I enjoyed it a lot. ( )