East-Daikon’s Reviews > The Owl Service > Status Update

alright so i've just re-read chapter one. scratchy noises in the attic that sound suspiciously responsive. there are two kids. the boy has gone up to investigate. he's brought down a plate. i didn't notice the first time but on the second reading it's clear the girl and boy aren't related because the girl says things like 'your mother's calling you'. i might do a chapter each day to try and understand this book

got to about 40% through and was so confused i decided to start over. (normally i'd just DNF but understanding this story is important to me).

huw seems to knows the full story; a love triangle, a betrayal. the household wanting to board up the loft almost seems like a metaphor. i don't really feel like this is a book for children

i wasn't expecting it for a children's book but the story is kind of hard to follow. there are three kids, two are well to do, one is not. there's two parents plus a housekeeper and a handyman guy huw (who seems half mad but is just in touch with things). taking the plates has unleashed all sorts of strangeness. the unfamiliar language is possibly making me miss things? everything feels blurry and confusing

end of chapter two. from what i gather there are three children (siblings?) and so far two adults, one is an employee. one of the adults has told the girl to return the plate (there's something about the attic the adults all know about but the kids don't) and she does except it's a fake substitute which honestly seems unrealistic but i'll overlook it. i can't quite tell how they are related to each other

just finished chapter one. there's a weird noise in the attic that seems to respond to them. the boy has brought down a plate for the girl. the prose is really old fashioned in the best sort of way