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novabird's review
4.0
Luminescent and powerful writing that unveils the chain of connection between dark deeds and the doers, lives in incarceration, and the condemned to die. Denfeld gracefully illumines ugliness without one iota of over-emphasis.
Denfeld made me think of the correlation between the ‘death penalty,’ and ‘the right to die.’ This was very thought provoking.
Yet, the ending is too omnipotent coming from the perspective that it did and hovered in the realm of the fantastical a little too long. 4.5
“Like the names in the books of the dead that lift from their pages at night to float into the sky, turning the stars into letters anyone can read.”
Denfeld made me think of the correlation between the ‘death penalty,’ and ‘the right to die.’ This was very thought provoking.
Yet, the ending is too omnipotent coming from the perspective that it did and hovered in the realm of the fantastical a little too long. 4.5
eli_haskett's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ktswings's review
5.0
I took away that this book was about deserving. That everyone's story deserves to be told and valued. About who deserves to die, and who deserves to make that decision. How are we classified into those who deserve forgiveness, punishment, abuse, peace, and love. This may have been the most beautifully sad books I have ever read.
gemmab00's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mslenakay's review
3.0
Somehow amid all the hype for this book I didn't grasp how dark it was going to be. I believe it's a worthwhile read but it's also not a book I'll ever read again. I don't mind dark books, especially when it's for good reason (the fact that this is really happening all over America).
I recommended this book to my book club (with none of us having read it before) and while reading this I knew I picked a book that very few people would like, which made me feel a little bad. However, if people did read this I think there are very powerful conversations that can be had.
What I can't wrap my head around is why people would actually show up to watch someone's execution. I understand that this person has done unspeakable harm to the victim's families, but I don't understand the desire to watch someone's life end.
This book did a great job at showing how broken the system was. The white haired boy didn't harm anyone, at least nothing implies he did as he is in for grand theft auto, but was put into the system with people who did awful things. Had he not gone to jail or had he gotten a much shorter sentence he would have had a decent shot at life, but by being put in there with some of those other people I don't think he has a shot at ever bouncing back from this. By being in there something in him has permanently been broken.
The most impressive thing about this book is how the author gets the reader to feel sympathetic towards the characters. You actually end up feeling bad for some of the people in the book, even knowing they did awful things. I've read enough reviews of this book to know that I'm not alone in this.
I recommended this book to my book club (with none of us having read it before) and while reading this I knew I picked a book that very few people would like, which made me feel a little bad. However, if people did read this I think there are very powerful conversations that can be had.
What I can't wrap my head around is why people would actually show up to watch someone's execution. I understand that this person has done unspeakable harm to the victim's families, but I don't understand the desire to watch someone's life end.
This book did a great job at showing how broken the system was. The white haired boy didn't harm anyone, at least nothing implies he did as he is in for grand theft auto, but was put into the system with people who did awful things. Had he not gone to jail or had he gotten a much shorter sentence he would have had a decent shot at life, but by being put in there with some of those other people I don't think he has a shot at ever bouncing back from this. By being in there something in him has permanently been broken.
The most impressive thing about this book is how the author gets the reader to feel sympathetic towards the characters. You actually end up feeling bad for some of the people in the book, even knowing they did awful things. I've read enough reviews of this book to know that I'm not alone in this.
ashleylorelle's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Drug use, Rape, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Violence
nac1050's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
anacatnascimento's review
4.0
A única sinopse que li deste livro não era, de todo, tão completa quanto a que podemos ler aqui no Goodreads. Falava-me de um mundo encantado e de magia, e por isso agradou-me. Mas não me preparou para o murro no estômago que, afinal de contas, é [b:The Enchanted|18090147|The Enchanted|Rene Denfeld|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1373991244s/18090147.jpg|25146823].
São pouco mais de 100 páginas, mas cada uma nos deixa com a pulga atrás da orelha. Onde é esta prisão encantada? Quem é, realmente, o nosso narrador? Como é que ele foi ali parar? Será que os cavalos dourados existem mesmo ou são só visões? Algumas respostas vêm, quase a contragosto, e confortam-nos. Outras ficam perdidas naquele lugar mágico, esperando ser encontradas por alguém mais sábio que nós. Mais encantado.
[b:The Enchanted|18090147|The Enchanted|Rene Denfeld|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1373991244s/18090147.jpg|25146823] é cru, e apesar de toda a magia, real, muito real. Ficamos com uma ideia do que se passa mesmo no interior de uma prisão - e se não nos deixa com vontade de nunca cometer um crime, I don't know what will. É assustador, porque nos deparamos com uma dualidade que temos de enfrentar praticamente todos os dias, embora noutros contextos: a humanidade, e a falta dela, presente nas pessoas.
Acima de tudo, é nisso que este livro se foca, e é essa a lição que o narrador nos tenta ensinar: de que apesar da miséria, dos erros, da tristeza, da solidão e da maldade, há sempre parte de nós que anseia por ser bom, por ser ouvido e, mais importante que tudo, reconhecido e visto pelo que se é.
Podemos aplicar isto a tantas partes da nossa vida que, a certa altura, deixei de tentar. Deixei que os cavalos dourados me levassem a galope, e os homenzinhos que vivem nas paredes a fazer os seus restauros descansados. Afinal, também eu estive naquele corredor da morte, a uma altura ou outra, e também eu vi a salvação ao fundo do túnel. Também eu me refugiei nas palavras e nos livros quando parecia que nada (nem ninguém) mais era capaz de me compreender.
[b:The Enchanted|18090147|The Enchanted|Rene Denfeld|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1373991244s/18090147.jpg|25146823] faz jus ao título. É um livro encantado que, entre horrores, consegue ser recheado da verdadeira magia, aquela que acontece todos os dias, muitas vezes sem darmos conta: a bondade.
“The truth is, clocks don’t tell time. Time is measured in meaning.”
São pouco mais de 100 páginas, mas cada uma nos deixa com a pulga atrás da orelha. Onde é esta prisão encantada? Quem é, realmente, o nosso narrador? Como é que ele foi ali parar? Será que os cavalos dourados existem mesmo ou são só visões? Algumas respostas vêm, quase a contragosto, e confortam-nos. Outras ficam perdidas naquele lugar mágico, esperando ser encontradas por alguém mais sábio que nós. Mais encantado.
[b:The Enchanted|18090147|The Enchanted|Rene Denfeld|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1373991244s/18090147.jpg|25146823] é cru, e apesar de toda a magia, real, muito real. Ficamos com uma ideia do que se passa mesmo no interior de uma prisão - e se não nos deixa com vontade de nunca cometer um crime, I don't know what will. É assustador, porque nos deparamos com uma dualidade que temos de enfrentar praticamente todos os dias, embora noutros contextos: a humanidade, e a falta dela, presente nas pessoas.
Acima de tudo, é nisso que este livro se foca, e é essa a lição que o narrador nos tenta ensinar: de que apesar da miséria, dos erros, da tristeza, da solidão e da maldade, há sempre parte de nós que anseia por ser bom, por ser ouvido e, mais importante que tudo, reconhecido e visto pelo que se é.
Podemos aplicar isto a tantas partes da nossa vida que, a certa altura, deixei de tentar. Deixei que os cavalos dourados me levassem a galope, e os homenzinhos que vivem nas paredes a fazer os seus restauros descansados. Afinal, também eu estive naquele corredor da morte, a uma altura ou outra, e também eu vi a salvação ao fundo do túnel. Também eu me refugiei nas palavras e nos livros quando parecia que nada (nem ninguém) mais era capaz de me compreender.
[b:The Enchanted|18090147|The Enchanted|Rene Denfeld|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1373991244s/18090147.jpg|25146823] faz jus ao título. É um livro encantado que, entre horrores, consegue ser recheado da verdadeira magia, aquela que acontece todos os dias, muitas vezes sem darmos conta: a bondade.
“The truth is, clocks don’t tell time. Time is measured in meaning.”
srestrepo92886's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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