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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
After surviving a car accident Jarred wakes up in hospital and is told that he won't walk again. As the details of the timeline that led up to the accident are revealed we are taken back to his childhood and what unfolds is a story of disability and how our accepts this but also forgiveness and redemption.
The synopsis of the novel sounded really interesting and I wasn't disappointed but what I wasn't expecting is to become so emotionally invested in both Jarred and Jack's story; never have I ever wanted a book to finish with a happy(ish) ending more. The characters were fully rounded and 'real' carrying their damage and doing their best to start again and I couldn't recommend this book more highly.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
The synopsis of the novel sounded really interesting and I wasn't disappointed but what I wasn't expecting is to become so emotionally invested in both Jarred and Jack's story; never have I ever wanted a book to finish with a happy(ish) ending more. The characters were fully rounded and 'real' carrying their damage and doing their best to start again and I couldn't recommend this book more highly.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
The writing was good and there were some poignant passages, but overall, the tone of the book was negative and it didn't really have a great ending. I thought the climax and end of the book felt rushed and really kind of lame.
The author seemed to be hiding what happened in Jerred's accident the whole time, but it was just a big letdown.
Spoiler
The author seemed to be hiding what happened in Jerred's accident the whole time, but it was just a big letdown.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
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The Coward was a great book! This is not necessarily the type of book I would normally pick up (and I was on the fence about whether or not to go for this), but I was very pleasantly surprised!
The good:
✧ It felt very honest and real. The story was touching and generally very well-written. I was gripped by the characters, especially Jack and Jarred. I found myself quickly attached to Jarred and his dark humour and spent a lot of the book willing him to better himself and his relationships. I do think that, as the main character, people will either love him or hate him, and this will play a big part as to whether or not they enjoy the book.
The bad:
✦ I don't have much criticism here. I felt that the story meandered a little at times. I also think Melissa, being quite a significant character in Jarred's life, could've been fleshed out a little better. I didn't really feel much about her relationship with Jarred and her ultimate fate.
Overall, this was a really compelling read that covered some important, hard-hitting themes. I hope a lot more people pick this up when it comes out in about two weeks!
Massive thanks to Canongate and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Coward was a great book! This is not necessarily the type of book I would normally pick up (and I was on the fence about whether or not to go for this), but I was very pleasantly surprised!
The good:
✧ It felt very honest and real. The story was touching and generally very well-written. I was gripped by the characters, especially Jack and Jarred. I found myself quickly attached to Jarred and his dark humour and spent a lot of the book willing him to better himself and his relationships. I do think that, as the main character, people will either love him or hate him, and this will play a big part as to whether or not they enjoy the book.
The bad:
✦ I don't have much criticism here. I felt that the story meandered a little at times. I also think Melissa, being quite a significant character in Jarred's life, could've been fleshed out a little better. I didn't really feel much about her relationship with Jarred and her ultimate fate.
Overall, this was a really compelling read that covered some important, hard-hitting themes. I hope a lot more people pick this up when it comes out in about two weeks!
Massive thanks to Canongate and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was drawn to The Coward by the desire to read the story of someone suddenly confined to a wheelchair, having had to make use of a wheelchair myself (although only temporarily following a hip fracture), which opened my eyes to some of the difficulties that face wheelchair users, some of which I had considered previously, others that hadn’t occurred to me. My experience shone just a dim light on the issues in comparison to someone like Jarred, the protagonist and narrator, whose disability is permanent after a car accident leaves him paralysed.
His sudden, obviously life-changing disability is just part of the story. The narration switches between Jarred’s current situation – now back living with his widowed father, Jack, having no contact with him for the last ten years since he ran away from home as a teenager – and his difficult childhood and adolescence. I felt a great deal of sympathy for both Jarred and Jack in their past and present situations, along with frustration with them both from time to time. “Oh, please don’t say/do that” I pleaded constantly.
What I absolutely loved was the black humour and repartee between the two of them and the off-the-wall, slightly unkind way Jarred uses his humour against some of the other people he comes into contact with. I also adored the character of Sarah.
Although a lot of the narrative quite rightly left me feeling very uneasy, there are flickers of hope scattered throughout the story, leading to healing of the past and optimism for the future.
His sudden, obviously life-changing disability is just part of the story. The narration switches between Jarred’s current situation – now back living with his widowed father, Jack, having no contact with him for the last ten years since he ran away from home as a teenager – and his difficult childhood and adolescence. I felt a great deal of sympathy for both Jarred and Jack in their past and present situations, along with frustration with them both from time to time. “Oh, please don’t say/do that” I pleaded constantly.
What I absolutely loved was the black humour and repartee between the two of them and the off-the-wall, slightly unkind way Jarred uses his humour against some of the other people he comes into contact with. I also adored the character of Sarah.
Although a lot of the narrative quite rightly left me feeling very uneasy, there are flickers of hope scattered throughout the story, leading to healing of the past and optimism for the future.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
inspiring
reflective
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