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greenan26's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Excrement, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol
djbobthegirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
wanderingghost12's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Excrement, and Religious bigotry
theologize'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
3.75
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Antisemitism, and Classism
burnourhistory's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
spacebeyonce's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse and Pedophilia
clarkg's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Slavery, and Alcohol
jennshelfishlife'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? N/A
3.75
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Classism
Minor: Infertility and Excrement
oproy'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
4.0
Overall, the first 2/3 is character development followed by 1/3 of a drive by story. It is well-written and
Graphic: Chronic illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Infertility
shottel's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
The writing style is immaculate as well, with perfect balance and flow and a dry sense of sarcasm. The presentation choices (font, spacing, etc.) present this book like great work of literature, like a fancy looking Bible, and it manages to earn these dressings. The plot is well-paced, with just the right amount of twists and turns. I couldn’t suggest a single phrasing or word choice or paragraph restructuring that I feel would be better.
The sole reason this is not a 5/5 review is that for all its excellence in depicting numerous different ethnic groups and people of different ages and abilities, the identity of the author as a straight man comes through. It’s the sole mark against the book’s virtual universality, an impressive feat given it’s situated very firmly in interwar-period Pennsylvania. Nevertheless, the repeated references to women’s breasts and buttocks and the greater priority men have in the story, among other things, was hard for me to miss.
Nevertheless, this book is still very close to a must-read. If you can manage the lengthy list of heavy topics the book covers (it pulls absolutely no punches with regards to the difficulties of life) and you think you even might possibly be interested in the setting and style, it’s worth your time.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Hate crime, Rape, Excrement, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Slavery, Medical content, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism