Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

65 reviews

acorny's review against another edition

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dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The writing was beautiful, the story tragic but predictable. Felt true to the time period and I like the historical information at the end of the book. 

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veposve's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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rzh's review against another edition

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mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0


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sarah_bettina's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A

3.75


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phrasecollector13___'s review against another edition

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informative relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

Renaissance's re-telling are simply not my type of reading.  Maybe I can work around Renaissance story if they are short or is an article simple and straight to the point.

Taking that in consideration, I didn't like this book, but I did enjoyed the reading.  It's a slowed pace book that I would pick up for when I would need a break from really rushing books and I want to slow down in the genre or a book I will pick to keep myself busy while in an appointment or when I'm bored.  I didn't found anything special about it.  It was simple and dull.  Also, it was predictable for me.  I really loved Lucrezia's rebel inner self, but she was too passive and... she was just a child in adult's matters.  It was heartbreaking that she could not understand what was going on around her and how she was left alone with herself and her maid (who was another child) and they had to "navigate" the adult world.  Since they were child who would not know how to handle/navigate the adult world, it challenging to read through the book.  I honestly consider this book more historical with a tiny little touch of fiction.  And I believe that's what manage me to read it to the end.

Which was one of the best part in the book.  I really like the twist fiction allowed the writer to gave us another conclusion to Lucrezia's story.  Since Lucrezia was showing feelings for Jacopo I just... loved their platonic relationship.  And for her by the end to decide to run away from Alfonso was a huge plot twist.  I thought that she was dying in that fortezza that night, but she escaped!  I would have loved to see a short story/novel about Lucrezia's and Jacopo's friendship (and possibly relationship) develop.  Now, that was a story I would have definitely enjoyed.  It was the innocence and their tenderness that moved me and I wish that Lucrezia could live the "love" story that her parents had, but Jacopo and her were born at the wrong period of time and in the wrong positions.


I believe the main reason this reading wasn't entertaining to me was because of the period the book was settle and that made it predictable and dull for me.

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njoyfrethem's review against another edition

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mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

Not as good as Hamnet. Interesting and made me want to learn more about the history and art it's based on. A bit predictable. 

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rhall19's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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vickie0326's review

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challenging emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Really sad when you consider this actually happened (minor details fictionalized). Couldn't put it down. I don't usually like audiobooks but blew through nearly 13 hours in 3 days.

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gabie_reads's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

Beautifully written, a very atmospheric narrative. Really liked the way the story was build, in almost an investigative way, where at every page you go collecting and arranging the pieces together. Altought I was half expecting part of the ending, that did not spoil the experience at all. In a way, the story reminded me of Once upon a time in Hollywood
I ended the book feeling satisfied, but somehow wanting for more, to loose myself a little bit longer on that story. 
For me, this is a book to be savoured, so don’t rush the reading. Must say that I am excited to read more of O’Farrell’s work.

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dizzymisslizzy's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5


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