Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Outros Pássaros by Sarah Addison Allen

35 reviews

leetorib's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

This book was such an unexpected light! The beginning felt a little slow but about 25% in, I felt untutored and invested in the ways the characters were coming together. The magical realism of the book felt well done and I found most of the plot twists enjoyable, even though a few were maybe a little more obvious. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child death and Incest

haileybones's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

There is a magical quality to Other Birds that adds to its sweetness -- and its sadness. I liked the story and characters and especially Mallow Island, but the handling of the characters felt a little off to me. They're all dealing with some element of loss, abuse, family, identity, and/or learning how to move through the world and, despite all their personal tragedy and reluctance to process it, they're very self-aware. I think that narrative choice serves the themes and fairy tale vibe of the story, but it comes at the price of some of the authenticity or subtlety or something. It still emotionally connects (I cried more than once), but it was because the author has a talent for profound sentences more than me feeling something for a character. I also noticed the two most prominent black characters fell into some racialized tropes, which made me a little uncomfortable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Sexual assault

milojean_reads'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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Mental illness

Minor: Child death, Incest, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

angelaf's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Picture a warm hug of a found family story set in a Melrose Place-esque apartment building on an SC island. Then mix in well-meaning ghosts, food as love, magical realism, and the theme of grief. Other Birds is one of my favorite kinds of books, a novel that addresses weighty topics while maintaining a hopeful tone. It is such a lovely book and well worth a read. Read if you enjoy: magical realism, found family stories, Southern authors, food writing

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Child death, Death, and Incest

elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Mental illness

missjazzage's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, and Car accident

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 
Other Birds is a heartwarming story featuring found family and quirky characters moving on from the hurts and secrets of the past. It is set a small apartment building on the idyllic sounding Mallow Island, South Carolina. There’s magical realism in the form of ghosts, and the delightful dellawisps - enchanting magical little birds. There’s also a bit of a mystery. While the story touches on some heavy topics the overall tone is light and feel good, emphasising the power of connection.

“There are birds, and then there are other birds. Maybe they don’t sing. Maybe they don’t fly. Maybe they don’t fit in. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather be an other bird than just the same old thing.” 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

aqtbenz'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, and Death of parent

katieimre's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Abandonment

Minor: Addiction and Drug abuse