Scan barcode
kaitlinlovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Racism, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Animal death, Homophobia, Violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Trafficking, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Incest, Grief, and Cancer
Minor: Xenophobia, Body shaming, and Police brutality
vanesst's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual violence, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Child death, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicide
Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Body horror, Bullying, and Xenophobia
Minor: Antisemitism, Car accident, Incest, Homophobia, Confinement, Alcohol, and Genocide
raincloud's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Car accident, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Cancer, Colonisation, Infertility, Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Abandonment, Addiction, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Classism, Racism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, War, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
smellatree's review
- 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
1.5
Graphic: Rape, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
renjamin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Grief, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Incest, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Self harm
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Police brutality
noitsbecky's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What I enjoyed:
This is my first Wally Lamb book, but it won't be my last. He's an incredibly gifted writer. To write a 900 page book that kept my attention all the way through is really a talent. To write a book about a character that is SO unforgivingly everything I despise about baby boomers that I didn't hate, frankly, is astounding. (Don't @ me, I'm not sorry.) The protagonist, Dominick, is so real to me. I rooted for him while simultaneously thinking he was the worst. He was a complex and very flawed character, a real person. All the characters were so well written.
This was a HARD read. Reading this wrecked me. I won't be able to read it again. But not in the way that books usually wreck me. It was DIFFICULT to read about the onset and progression and ultimate extremes of Thomas' schizophrenia. And coming from a home where a close family member deals with very untreated mental illness, it hurt. It was so so hard to read the anger and resentment and burden that Dominick felt about caring for Thomas because I've felt it myself. Dude, it was a tough read. But it was tough because it was so real. The writing was just so spot on. The ricocheting between love and hate, ach.
What I didn't enjoy:
Strangely, I thought I would feel more -something- when the *big event* happened. I'm not sure why. And I can't tell if I am content with that or not. Otherwise, I have no complaints, honestly.
Would I recommend?
Okay, trigger warnings abound. Just to name a few: Domestic abuse, emotional abuse, death, infant death, suicide, violence, rape, paranoia, mental illness. There's so many, I'm sure I've forgotten some. Please do your due diligence and research it if you have triggers. If you like heavy subject matter and realistic fiction, yes. Just yes. If you prefer your fiction to be very fictionalized, no. Definitely no. Happy reading. :)
Graphic: Animal death, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Infertility, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pedophilia, and Rape