Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Circus Train by Amita Parikh

11 reviews

aestass's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, War, Ableism, Xenophobia, and Medical trauma

friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.25

The novel is really rich and beautiful, the narrator imojen church was very good in my opinion. 
It shows the side of wealthy people in ww2, usually storiea are about brave poor and suffering people, not the people who did not envolve themselves in the war. 
I enjoyed it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Antisemitism, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Ableism, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, War, Body shaming, and Classism

bibliomania_express's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Abandonment, Sexism, Police brutality, Medical content, Hate crime, Genocide, Grief, Death, Confinement, Classism, Body shaming, Antisemitism, and Ableism

Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

oceanwriter's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

3.5

Before reading, I saw a lot of hype for this book. I get nervous when this happens because more often than not my reading tastes aren't similar to other readers in my various online social circles. I was relieved to see such exquisite writing when I finally opened it up. Though this wasn't a five-star read for me personally, the hype is understandable.

All Lena has ever known is the traveling circus where her father Theo performs as an illusionist. Lena was left unable to walk by a contracted bought of Polio as an infant. Her spirit and desire to live a better-abled life are strong. Eventually, she attempts a new form of treatment to try and recover the use of her legs.

Meanwhile, it's the early days of World War II. Theo and Lena take in a Jewish boy Alexandre. He's Lena's first friend and companion her age. As the war carries on, she ends up separated from them. Though she always wished for the freedom to do what she wishes without her father's constant fretting and concern for her wellbeing, she never would have wished for him to be taken away.

As much as I loved the writing and a great deal of the story, I also felt like some parts were unrealistic. There was also a love of distinct plotlines going on throughout the book. For me, the polio plot was strong enough to stand alone without the addition of the war. It shifted the focus too much late in the book and it felt like a completely different story than the one I started.

My quips aside, I cannot compliment the beautiful writing enough. The opening pages took me in immediately. I'm insanely impressed given The Circus Train is the author's debut novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Ableism, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Violence, Medical content, and Genocide

apagetoturn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, I’m not always into historical but this one pulled me right in. I loved Lena and her story of growth and overcoming her personal and medical traumas. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content

heatherjchin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Abandonment, Ableism, Confinement, Xenophobia, and Violence

Moderate: Medical trauma, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Medical content, Child abuse, Child death, and Classism

Minor: Sexual violence

maregred's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, and Genocide

Moderate: Medical content, Death, and Child death

Minor: Grief and Deportation

booksemmahasread's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, War, Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Ableism

Moderate: Medical content, Alcohol, Classism, Violence, and Genocide

ibjilln's review

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Ableism, Grief, Death of parent, Dysphoria, War, Antisemitism, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Blood, Alcohol, Body shaming, Classism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infidelity, Violence, and Gun violence

Minor: Abandonment and Pregnancy

shannasbooksnhooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Though they ate the same food, slept in the same carriages, and enjoyed the same music, Lena's disability had taught her a harsh truth: she was different, and people didn't like different.
This book immediately climbed up to my favorites list (both for 2023 and in general). I was immersed in the story the entire time, and it was a beautifully woven tale of love and heartbreak during World War II. Everything - both inside and outside of the circus - was so magical. The characters had so much depth, and I fell in love with (almost) each and every one. Horace was an asshole but we can ignore that. I definitely recommend that people try to read this at least once.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Grief, Xenophobia, Violence, Medical content, and Racism

Minor: Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, and Genocide