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mijtje's review
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
TL;DR
Story good, characters bad
Boyne is very good at taking a small idea and creating it in something great and unique. This book is a good example. He managed to get me so pissed at the characters that I had to put the book away for a few days. Good work!
It’s amusing and managed to keep my attention. But it’s also a little predictable when you know that Boyne likes drama. The characters are also upsettingly one dimensional. For most, their personality can be summarised in one word. The main character was the most frustrating; I couldn’t find any redeeming qualities whatsoever, which made reading the book feel unrealistic and infuriating. I get that Boyne wants me to hate him, but do it in a smarter way. No one is this horrible.
Story good, characters bad
Boyne is very good at taking a small idea and creating it in something great and unique. This book is a good example. He managed to get me so pissed at the characters that I had to put the book away for a few days. Good work!
It’s amusing and managed to keep my attention. But it’s also a little predictable when you know that Boyne likes drama. The characters are also upsettingly one dimensional. For most, their personality can be summarised in one word. The main character was the most frustrating; I couldn’t find any redeeming qualities whatsoever, which made reading the book feel unrealistic and infuriating. I get that Boyne wants me to hate him, but do it in a smarter way. No one is this horrible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Rape, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Miscarriage
unboxedjack's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Pregnancy, Rape, Miscarriage, Infertility, Murder, Homophobia, Suicide, and Sexual content
allegrabelle's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Awful read - basically airplane fiction.
I have a massive issue with the author using violent Nazi history as a fun part of the character's development. It is only for the shock value and adds very little to the overl plot.
The writing style is awful. They say men who write women focus on their unattainable looks. I would say that Boyne does the same thing with young men in a way which is nauseating to read, and entirely unrealistically.
Took me two days to read this book for book club and we never even met to discuss it it was so horrible.
There's nothing to take from this book nor is it even a fun beach read. All the characters felt forced and completely unrealistic. The relationships were so odd I could never buy into any of the plot.
I have a massive issue with the author using violent Nazi history as a fun part of the character's development. It is only for the shock value and adds very little to the overl plot.
The writing style is awful. They say men who write women focus on their unattainable looks. I would say that Boyne does the same thing with young men in a way which is nauseating to read, and entirely unrealistically.
Took me two days to read this book for book club and we never even met to discuss it it was so horrible.
There's nothing to take from this book nor is it even a fun beach read. All the characters felt forced and completely unrealistic. The relationships were so odd I could never buy into any of the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Outing, War, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Avoidap1's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
liltoasty's review
I loved The Hearts Invisible Furies and it was the first book I read in 2021. I was excited to pick up another John Boyne book and get lost in it. However I could not make it past the first 50 pages. I am familiar with his themes and really tried to stick it out, because I know how beautiful his writing can be, but I couldn't make peace with the premise of a middle aged man secretly masterbating watching a young man sleep in the same room as him. Although he is portrayed as a mentor, I found it really hard to keep at the forefront of my reading. Maurice was self obsessed and jealous of the lives of the young men that he secretly lusted over, while paying for them to travel Europe with him. I just couldn't make my peace with it. Highly upset at this outcome, because I really do enjoy his writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
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