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lwl000's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
As a big fan of The Vanishing Half, I expected great things from this one too. I love Bennett’s writing and the beautiful, poetic statements she sprinkles through this novel. Unfortunately, for me, the storyline and the characters just fell flat. I found the characters stale and without much depth; most of all (and this is odd since I usually love some moody/sad characters) they were just all so dang wan and depressing. I didn’t see any character development or growth here, and I felt we ended up right where we started: with judgement from others and guilt/regret around certain life decisions.
I found the treatment of the themes of abortion and sex/infidelity, through the lens of righteousness/piety of a church community, to also be tiresome and unoriginal.
I found the treatment of the themes of abortion and sex/infidelity, through the lens of righteousness/piety of a church community, to also be tiresome and unoriginal.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Infidelity, Grief, Infertility, Suicide, Child abuse, Abortion, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol
nokchimbird's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Abortion, Sexual assault, and Child abuse
lillypowell's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Suicide
Moderate: Abortion, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Rape, and Pregnancy
Minor: Infertility and Cursing
awkwardllama's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Death of parent, Abortion, and Infertility
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Rape, Alcohol, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Racism
jayisreading's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.5
This was a well-written story that, unfortunately, wasn’t for me. I can recognize the great prose and themes in this novel, which I thought Bennett crafted with great care. I think it’s safe to say that I just wasn’t the target audience. I didn’t find the book dull—the main characters really spoke for themselves and had a lot going for them—but I wasn’t especially invested in what was happening either.
Something that I’ve also been trying to parse out but don’t have the words for was the discourse around abortion in this novel. I could have misinterpreted something, but I got the impression that Bennett was taking a rather critical approach to abortion that seemed to weigh down on one of the protagonists, Nadia, significantly. I don’t know if this is a result of the setting (a Black community with strong Christian affiliations), but I really wasn’t sure what to make of it.
All-in-all, an interesting enough book that I think will resonate with some (especially for those interested in books engaging with motherhood and relationships); I just wasn’t one of those people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Suicide, Grief, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Racism, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Alcoholism
hilaryshelby's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Abortion, and Suicide
nandakandabooks's review against another edition
Very heavy theme of anti-abortion and religious communities - double standarts for women and men!
Did not like the writing, characters did not have clear distinct voices.
Did not like the writing, characters did not have clear distinct voices.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Rape
astronautin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Abortion, Suicide, and Pedophilia
katrinkirjat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Olipa hyvä kirja! En muuta tosin odottanutkaan kirjailijalta aiemmin lukemani kirjan perusteella, mutta silti yllätyin positiivisesti. Kirja vei täysin mukanaan.
Kirja käsittelee äitiyttä, äidittömyyttä, äidiksi tulemista tai tulemattomuutta eri näkökulmista, eri hahmojen tarinoiden kautta.
Tarinan keskiössä on kuitenkin kolme nuorta, joiden koko elämää värittää, vääntää ja kuroo yhteen ja erilleen salaisuus. Mitä jos kaikki olisi mennyt toisin? Mitä jos salaisuus olisi kerrottu aiemmin?
Pidin kirjan hahmoista ja heidän rosoisuudestaan. Pidin siitä miten tarina kurkotti moneen suuntaan, mutta pysyi silti hyvin kasassa. Pidin siitä, että kirja käsitteli isoja aiheita ja synkkiäkin asioita, mutta ei jäänyt niihin vellomaan tai mässäilemään.
Kirja tuntui vähän elämää isommalta.
Kirjaa hyvin lyhyen hetken pureskeltuani jäin vähän miettimään yhden näkökulman esiin nostamista usean kerran - tätäkö kirjailija halusi alleviivata? Joillekin ”sivujuonille” olisin ehkä kaivannut vähän enemmän tilaa ja käsittelyä. Toisaalta tällaista elämäkin on. Kaikki asiat eivät ”ratkea”, saa päätepistettä ja jotkut asiat pyörivät loopilla loppuelämän.
Suosittelen kyllä lukemaan tämän.
Kirja käsittelee äitiyttä, äidittömyyttä, äidiksi tulemista tai tulemattomuutta eri näkökulmista, eri hahmojen tarinoiden kautta.
Tarinan keskiössä on kuitenkin kolme nuorta, joiden koko elämää värittää, vääntää ja kuroo yhteen ja erilleen salaisuus. Mitä jos kaikki olisi mennyt toisin? Mitä jos salaisuus olisi kerrottu aiemmin?
Pidin kirjan hahmoista ja heidän rosoisuudestaan. Pidin siitä miten tarina kurkotti moneen suuntaan, mutta pysyi silti hyvin kasassa. Pidin siitä, että kirja käsitteli isoja aiheita ja synkkiäkin asioita, mutta ei jäänyt niihin vellomaan tai mässäilemään.
Kirja tuntui vähän elämää isommalta.
Kirjaa hyvin lyhyen hetken pureskeltuani jäin vähän miettimään yhden näkökulman esiin nostamista usean kerran - tätäkö kirjailija halusi alleviivata? Joillekin ”sivujuonille” olisin ehkä kaivannut vähän enemmän tilaa ja käsittelyä. Toisaalta tällaista elämäkin on. Kaikki asiat eivät ”ratkea”, saa päätepistettä ja jotkut asiat pyörivät loopilla loppuelämän.
Suosittelen kyllä lukemaan tämän.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Sexual violence
leneliest's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Pregnancy, Suicide, Sexual violence, Rape, Infertility, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail