squidsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Addiction
ekg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Addiction
emilybillings's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Infidelity
literary__mary's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed this book! I wasn’t sure about the stream of consciousness narration at first, but I appreciated how the narrator’s thoughts moved from mundane life to deep and dark thoughts in regards to climate change as the book progressed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Addiction
georgiakirkegard's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Child abuse and Suicidal thoughts
kalzu's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
janshi's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
What the heck did I just read?
Absolutley not my cup of tea. Would not recommend.
Absolutley not my cup of tea. Would not recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Child abuse, and Child death
brogan7's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
I was disappointed in this book. There is so much about it to like...grappling with climate change, dealing with a troubled brother, raising a child, relating to a friend who decides to retreat from the world in the face of the impending disaster...
But she doesn't penetrate any of these issues with any depth. She seems averse to creating a whole sentence, in fact (well maybe they're sentences but barely...okay, I've been reading Middlemarch alongside so maybe this isn't fair but honestly she doesn't stay with a thought for five minutes.). I wanted to know...the grit of, what happens with the brother? How does the niece's hair smell? (The baby seems like just a prop, never grazes real.). How do you as a human who cares, bear the weight of your loved ones' sorrows?
If Offill never hit a true note, I would dismiss this book as just unimportant, but I felt that she had something, she just didn't stay with it. I have a friend who is retreating from the world...I wanted to learn something, I wanted to relate... obviously Offill writes because she cares about these things, but then why doesn't she give anything? It's all a big sardonic joke. You survive by glossing the surfaces? I don't believe it. The way she writes suggests to me that she has lots to say, she just doesn't go there.
I wanted her to go there.
But she doesn't penetrate any of these issues with any depth. She seems averse to creating a whole sentence, in fact (well maybe they're sentences but barely...okay, I've been reading Middlemarch alongside so maybe this isn't fair but honestly she doesn't stay with a thought for five minutes.). I wanted to know...the grit of, what happens with the brother? How does the niece's hair smell? (The baby seems like just a prop, never grazes real.). How do you as a human who cares, bear the weight of your loved ones' sorrows?
If Offill never hit a true note, I would dismiss this book as just unimportant, but I felt that she had something, she just didn't stay with it. I have a friend who is retreating from the world...I wanted to learn something, I wanted to relate... obviously Offill writes because she cares about these things, but then why doesn't she give anything? It's all a big sardonic joke. You survive by glossing the surfaces? I don't believe it. The way she writes suggests to me that she has lots to say, she just doesn't go there.
I wanted her to go there.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, and Alcoholism
bea_becker's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Heavy themes around climate change and doomsday-esque which isn't necessarily for everyone so be prepared.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
yananed's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Child death and Child abuse