Sign in with Facebook
Beata 's Reviews > The Lost Apothecary
The Lost Apothecary
by
by
I am aware that my feedback on this novel will take me to the minority club, unfortunately, I expected much, much more ... Having waited for several months, I was eager to start the audiobook, however, despite good narrators, the book did not deliver. Why? Some moments I found implausible, and I do not mean the dual timeline, not at all. In fact, if you asked me when the book is set, I would be able to define the time only because the dates are given in the book. I did not find anything unique about the historical background, it well could be one hundred years earlier or later. I did find the past much more interesting than the present since the problems Caroline has to tackle do not make me care for her. Sounds like I am heartless, that may be, but it is the superficial way in which they are depicted that did not evoke emotions in me.
The best part is mudlarking of which I have read a book or two and which sounds fascinating to me.
Still, I am glad to have read a book which is so popular with readers at present and I do hope it brings them more joy than it was in my case.
The best part is mudlarking of which I have read a book or two and which sounds fascinating to me.
Still, I am glad to have read a book which is so popular with readers at present and I do hope it brings them more joy than it was in my case.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
The Lost Apothecary.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
April 3, 2021
–
Started Reading
April 3, 2021
– Shelved
April 6, 2021
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 71 (71 new)
message 1:
by
Orhan
(new)
Apr 06, 2021 01:48PM
Great review, Beata. Oh, shucks, I was just about to read it :D but now I won't. Forgive me please :), and you're not heartless.
reply
|
flag
Thanks for this great review, Beata. This hadn’t quite made it to my TBR, but now I think it won’t.
So useful that you are such an honest and plain-speaking reviewer, Beata! Thank you for your clarity of judgement.
Shame this one was a 'beige' experience for you Beata, good review though!
This is one that I’m on the fence about reading. There seems to be mixed reviews. A good and honest and informative review Beata!
Passing on this even though I think there’s some good stuff to be found mudlarking.
Oh, that's too bad, Beata. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy "The Lost Apothecary." I hope your next read is a winner. :)
Oops. I did have some issues with the friendship plausibility but not as major as you. Sorry, this didn't work out, Beata and I know you're not heartless.
You always seem to find the positive in a story, Beata. Your review really tells me to skip this one. I appreciate your honest review.
Terrific review! 💕 Hope you love your next one.
Sorry it didn’t work out for you Beata- very honest review 🤗
Orhan wrote: "Great review, Beata. Oh, shucks, I was just about to read it :D but now I won't. Forgive me please :), and you're not heartless."Thanks, Orhan :)) It's amazing how different books each of us chooses :)
Barbara K wrote: "Thanks for this great review, Beata. This hadn’t quite made it to my TBR, but now I think it won’t."Thank you, Barbara :)) This was an OK read, otherwise I would've abandoned it, so why not pick it up? ;) I'd hate to deprive you of a book that you might enjoy :)
J.C. wrote: "So useful that you are such an honest and plain-speaking reviewer, Beata! Thank you for your clarity of judgement."Thank you, Jeanne :)) You know I choose HF more than often, some just don't deliver, which is OK I suppose .. We can't love all books we read, can we? :)
Mark wrote: "Shame this one was a 'beige' experience for you Beata, good review though!"Thanks, Mark :)) I expected more, yes, just a story I didin't care much about ..
Tina wrote: "This is one that I’m on the fence about reading. There seems to be mixed reviews. A good and honest and informative review Beata!"Thank you, Tina :)) True, the rating scale is wide with this book lol :) I hope you pick it up, just not to regret not trying ;)
Such a shame, when sometimes our expectations aren't lived up to, which makes the let down more disappointing.
Judith wrote: "Passing on this even though I think there’s some good stuff to be found mudlarking."Mudlarking is like a throttle for this book, Judith :) I remember that several years ago the Vistula River (the biggest in Poland) had a very low level due to a drought, and hundreds of artefacts were found then :) I don't think mudlarking is that popular over here ...
Melissa wrote: "Oh, that's too bad, Beata. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy "The Lost Apothecary." I hope your next read is a winner. :)"Thank you, Melissa :))
Peter wrote: "Oops. I did have some issues with the friendship plausibility but not as major as you. Sorry, this didn't work out, Beata and I know you're not heartless."Thank you, Peter :)) I hate it when we differ so much on a book ... Actually, the friendship sounds plausible to me, especially when we learn of Nella's tragic loss of her baby ... It was rather Caroline that seemed tedious to me ..
Barbara wrote: "You always seem to find the positive in a story, Beata. Your review really tells me to skip this one. I appreciate your honest review."Thank you, Barbara :)) Just describing subjective opinion, but I never discourage my Friends from picking up a book I found not that engaging :)) Reading sensitivity has so many shades :)
Mary Beth wrote: "Terrific review! 💕 Hope you love your next one."Thank you, Mary Beth :))
Ceecee wrote: "Sorry it didn’t work out for you Beata- very honest review 🤗"Thank you, Ceecee :)) Glad you liked it though :)
Nat wrote: "Such a shame, but sometimes our expectations aren't loved up to, which makes the let down more disappointing."Precisely, Nat! :)) It's often the case with books that everybody is reading at the moment ... Thank you!
Beata wrote: "Peter wrote: "Oops. I did have some issues with the friendship plausibility but not as major as you. Sorry, this didn't work out, Beata and I know you're not heartless."Thank you, Peter :)) I hate..."
The friendship I was really targeting was the one between Caroline and Gaynor. I also agree that the storyline involving Nella and Eliza was far more interesting. C'est la vie. 😊
Beata wrote: "Orhan wrote: "Great review, Beata. Oh, shucks, I was just about to read it :D but now I won't. Forgive me please :), and you're not heartless."Thanks, Orhan :)) It's amazing how different books ea..."
Beata, your observation is correct! Although, at the same time, I bet we share similar opinions about many things and hold dear similar virtues 0;)
Beata...not every book will connect with a reader. Sorry this one was not for you....I appreciate your honest review!🌹
Your excellent, candid review reinforced my decision to give this one a pass. Sorry that this one was disappointing for you.
From what you said it almost sounds to me like either the author didn't do enough research for time lines or didn't think it was important.
Great review Beata - shame this didn’t have the depth of authentic historical detail you were hoping for ........ and I would never, ever think you were heartless!! :) :)
Peter wrote: "Beata wrote: "Peter wrote: "Oops. I did have some issues with the friendship plausibility but not as major as you. Sorry, this didn't work out, Beata and I know you're not heartless."Thank you, Pe..."
Caroline and Gaynor hit it off immediately, but I'd accept it lol :) Let's hope for a BR that will do and that will receive six stars :))
Orhan wrote: "Beata wrote: "Orhan wrote: "Great review, Beata. Oh, shucks, I was just about to read it :D but now I won't. Forgive me please :), and you're not heartless."Thanks, Orhan :)) It's amazing how diff..."
Yes, and I always treat your reviews as good lessons on tough subjects as you write in a most approachble way about most unapproachable matters (for me, naturally) :)
Fran wrote: "Beata...not every book will connect with a reader. Sorry this one was not for you....I appreciate your honest review!🌹"Fran, thank you for being kind and understanding :)) Somehow I think books should bring about all kinds of opinions :))
Kathleen wrote: "Your excellent, candid review reinforced my decision to give this one a pass. Sorry that this one was disappointing for you."Thank you, Kathleen :))
Sorry this missed the mark for you Beata, hope your next read is a good one. We get a couple of duds now and then but there are more great books out there! :)
Joe wrote: "From what you said it almost sounds to me like either the author didn't do enough research for time lines or didn't think it was important."Thanks, Joe :)) I had a very slight feeling regarding the period based mainly on my general understanding of it, Joe .. Just didn't feel it in my bones ... Could be subjective, mind you ...
Richard wrote: "Great review Beata - shame this didn’t have the depth of authentic historical detail you were hoping for ........ and I would never, ever think you were heartless!! :) :)"Thank you, Richard :)) I'd say the personal problems Caroline has are described superficially, there is nothing that made me connect with her although I should being a woman ...
MaryannC. Book Freak wrote: "Sorry this missed the mark for you Beata, hope your next read is a good one. We get a couple of duds now and then but there are more great books out there! :)"Thank you, MaryannC :)) Completely agree with you :) Glad this was a superb read for you :) It's amazing how readers react to the same book, being able to follow all kinds of reviews is a definite upside of GR :)
Ugh! Two star reads are the worst lol!! I hope you love your next one!
Oh darn! Sorry this didn’t work out better for you. Great review Beata! Hope you connect well with your next book!
I respect your intelligent reviews and thank you for saving your fellow reader time to be able to read/listen to a worthwhile read. As the cliché goes - "So many books, so little time!"
You're not the only one who expected much more out of this, Beata! I was super disappointed too! Great review! And hope your next book is much better! :)
I was also in the minority club with you
This one hasn't made it to my TBR list, although I'm reading reviews all over the place. Thanks for your fair and honest opinion, Beata! And I think you're full of heart 💓
Loved your review. Was thinking about reading this one, but maybe I'll give it a miss.
Great review Beata. I haven't read this novel but I find that books often fail to meet high expectations. I am frequently against the crowd with popular books but it's good to have some critical independence.
Farrah wrote: "Ugh! Two star reads are the worst lol!! I hope you love your next one!"Thank you, Farrah :)) I usually try to finish a book but this one brought no joy ...
Lindsay - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews wrote: "Oh darn! Sorry this didn’t work out better for you. Great review Beata! Hope you connect well with your next book!"Thank you, Lindsay :)) This one wasn't for me ;) :))
Eileen wrote: "I respect your intelligent reviews and thank you for saving your fellow reader time to be able to read/listen to a worthwhile read. As the cliché goes - "So many books, so little time!""Thank you, Eileen :)) It's never my intention to discourage anyone :) As for me, if I really, really want to read a book, no negative reviews can ever stop me lol :))
Yun wrote: "You're not the only one who expected much more out of this, Beata! I was super disappointed too! Great review! And hope your next book is much better! :)"Thanks, Yun! :)) I read your review, and we agree on the main issues :)
