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rheagoveas's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Moderate: Murder
c_dmckinney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Grief, Police brutality, Death, Gun violence, War, Classism, Gaslighting, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny, Police brutality, Animal death, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Classism, and Violence
lottselgar's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Kidnapping, Violence, Classism, Confinement, Murder, and Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content
notjillsanders's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, Child death, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
helen's review against another edition
4.0
This book is set in an unspecified South American country and the hostages are from all over the world, including a famous American soprano, an opera-loving Japanese businessman, and his (very overworked!) translator.
The hostage-takers start off as a scary group with guns, but over the course of the book, via Patchett's excellent use of humour and pathos, they become individuals who are trapped by their circumstances. The author makes a bold decision to tell us their fate in chapter one. This has the effect of allowing us to slow down and sink into the unfurling story without the need to rush to the end to find out what happens.
Despite the violent beginning and ending, at its heart it's a kind story about trapped people finding a common language via music and love.
4 stars because I really disliked the epilogue.
Content notes:
Moderate: Death, Murder, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
deebee223's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Confinement and Kidnapping
Moderate: Police brutality, Infidelity, Death, Violence, Gun violence, and Murder
Minor: War
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Medical content, Confinement, Alcohol, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Child death, Grief, and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual content
mblanke's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Chronic illness, War, Terminal illness, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Murder, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Torture
readingrainbill's review against another edition
- 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
What drew me to it was the fact that it was turned into a movie starring Julianne Moore and Ken Watanabe. What I didn't know was how much I was going to like it.
This whole book takes place during a hostage situation as it drags out longer than anyone expected and we see these characters who, in any other circumstance, would never have said more than hello to each other. What impressed me was that the terrorists weren't just evil incarnate, they were people too.
The characters' stories were beautifully interwoven by Ann Patchett and she made me care so much that when the ending came I was almost in denial. It couldn't be over, there had to be more.
I think this is a book that everyone should read no matter your genre preferences.
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Police brutality, and Murder
Minor: War and Injury/Injury detail
izzyknight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Physical abuse, and Child death