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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Note: I do not think I’m the target audience for this book. If we’re delving into history I want more, well, history, and if we’re just looking for historical fiction- I still want more details, more fully fleshed out characters, or some part of the plot that I don’t see coming. As is it just feels very surface level, very predictable- i was aware of how bad the famine was before this, absolutely nothing new was added. If this is your intro to the topic it’ll suffice, but for me none of the characters were particularly engaging, no new ground was covered or new emotions conjured up. Obviously I don’t think it’s intended this way, but it almost read like fictional tragedy voyeurism, in a way- like there was no point or intrigue beyond feeling bad just for the sake of feeling bad. I would have much preferred villains with faces, real concrete details concerning the injustice and cruelty, real characters with real heartbreak- instead it just feels like a paint-by-numbers generic sad story with just enough strife, heartbreak, and ultimately hope required to make the average reader feel.. something. So- not my cup of tea, but I also would not claim it to be objectively bad or poorly written- it just feels like a dive into the shallow end of emotion, imo. That’s just my take, if you enjoyed it or felt you learned something, awesome, but personally I felt the characters lacked all depth outside of “desperation” and the actual historical details were sorely lacking. It was a tragic part of history, I absolutely do not wish to downplay or dismiss that- i just wish the book did the matter more justice, actually. More depth, more fully formed characters I care about- ah well, just my two cents, hope you like it more than I did if you do give it a try.
slow-paced
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
The most harrowing book I've ever read. An incredibly important story to be heard, it's very well researched, I learnt a lot about the Great Hunger.
This novel gives quite a broad overview of events rather than going deeply into any of the characters emotional lives.
I listened to the audiobook which was a bit confusing and I got some characters mixed up. The voices used for children were very off-putting.
This novel gives quite a broad overview of events rather than going deeply into any of the characters emotional lives.
I listened to the audiobook which was a bit confusing and I got some characters mixed up. The voices used for children were very off-putting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Genocide, Grief, Classism
Moderate: Gore, Sexism, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail
Easy to read and potential to be a very good and interesting book. While it did give an insight to the trials of the people living through the Irish famine I would have liked it to have let us get a bit closer to some of the characters. I felt that now it was just scratching the surface. I am a little but disappointed actually since the tag line made it sound a lot more promising.
Loved this book! Really felt like I got to know the characters. this book give a good insight into life during famine times in Ireland.
I have been a huge fan to Marita Conlon-McKennas work since I was a child myself so I couldn’t wait to read this book.
and I was genuinely sad when I finished it,
I have been a huge fan to Marita Conlon-McKennas work since I was a child myself so I couldn’t wait to read this book.
and I was genuinely sad when I finished it,
Although not marketed as such, I would consider this a young adult book based on the writing style. I almost stopped reading but decided to stick it out because it was easy to skim sections. I also was unite familiar with the topic. If you know nothing about the potato famine in Ireland this book provides clear information on the horrors of famine.
Note: I do not think I’m the target audience for this book. If we’re delving into history I want more, well, history, and if we’re just looking for historical fiction- I still want more details, more fully fleshed out characters, or some part of the plot that I don’t see coming. As is it just feels very surface level, very predictable- i was aware of how bad the famine was before this, absolutely nothing new was added. If this is your intro to the topic it’ll suffice, but for me none of the characters were particularly engaging, no new ground was covered or new emotions conjured up. Obviously I don’t think it’s intended this way, but it almost read like fictional tragedy voyeurism, in a way- like there was no point or intrigue beyond feeling bad just for the sake of feeling bad. I would have much preferred villains with faces, real concrete details concerning the injustice and cruelty, real characters with real heartbreak- instead it just feels like a paint-by-numbers generic sad story with just enough strife, heartbreak, and ultimately hope required to make the average reader feel.. something. So- not my cup of tea, but I also would not claim it to be objectively bad or poorly written- it just feels like a dive into the shallow end of emotion, imo. That’s just my take, if you enjoyed it or felt you learned something, awesome, but personally I felt the characters lacked all depth outside of “desperation” and the actual historical details were sorely lacking. It was a tragic part of history, I absolutely do not wish to downplay or dismiss that- i just wish the book did the matter more justice, actually. More depth, more fully formed characters I care about- ah well, just my two cents, hope you like it more than I did if you do give it a try.
An outstanding book. Took me to a time in history that I knew little about. Fascinating and very readable.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Genocide, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Deportation