DigitalRob reviewed Curious Toys by Elizabeth Hand
Review of 'Curious Toys' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
The best thing I did for myself regarding this novel was spoil it. I really began to enjoy it more once I knew who the killer was. I’m not sure why this made it more enjoyable, but I think it made it easier to distinguish between the character voices.
Hand offers four different possibilities for the mystery, one is extremely unlikely and in the end was a pointless red herring except to possibly point out that gross tastes for young girls was not always hidden and often just accepted at the time. Two of the other three had such similar voices in the text that they were difficult to distinguish, which I’m sure is the point, but I didn’t like it anyway.
Once I knew where the book was leading, I was able to enjoy the road she took with it. The end was particularly satisfying on several levels, including …
The best thing I did for myself regarding this novel was spoil it. I really began to enjoy it more once I knew who the killer was. I’m not sure why this made it more enjoyable, but I think it made it easier to distinguish between the character voices.
Hand offers four different possibilities for the mystery, one is extremely unlikely and in the end was a pointless red herring except to possibly point out that gross tastes for young girls was not always hidden and often just accepted at the time. Two of the other three had such similar voices in the text that they were difficult to distinguish, which I’m sure is the point, but I didn’t like it anyway.
Once I knew where the book was leading, I was able to enjoy the road she took with it. The end was particularly satisfying on several levels, including everything from the method of justice brought to the killer (a moment that didn’t go as I expected at all) to the final chapter in 1977.
I definitely liked this book, and I wasn’t sure I was going to as it got started. I’d like more stories about Pin’s life. I think she is a role model for young women growing into themselves. My favorite after Pin is Bacon. I’m glad his story ended as it did.