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truthfoundhere's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Outing, and Gaslighting
chloecc15's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Religious bigotry
clara_mai's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Abortion
keerstinlawler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content
blainereads'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? It's complicated
5.0
There were moments of such beauty in the prose, devastatingly juxtaposed with the darkest, ugliest elements of humanity. The author is a master of manipulating diction with such subtly that you never feel bulldozed by purple prose or other such literary devices and yet occasionally are just walloped by the truth of the words that you have to go back to reread passages.
I’ve also not read a dual timeline executed SO well before; while I usually find time gimmicks can tend to be a bit annoying, the story is structured in such a way that you just get dizzying, satisfying emotional whiplash. It’s a bit slow in the beginning but the build up is absolutely worth the emotional payoff.
I LOVE location as character and this created an incredibly immersive experience that I immediately felt transported to a gritty blue collar Scotland every time I picked up the book. It’s well-situated in its time and yet is also timeless all the same. The language element, though perhaps a bit distracting at first, added important color and character and facilitated a real rhythm of language that I don’t often feel when reading.
I could probably go on and on. I haven’t read the author’s booker-winning debut yet but after this??? I simply have no choice.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.25
I loved this! It was sad and brutal but not without beauty. I think it avoided a lot of sentimentality in romance by focusing on the physical and the unglamorous, and then working hard to draw out the tenderness within that realism. The imagery and lyricism made this a beautiful, if slightly dense, novel.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
mma11's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
bettylooksatbooks's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Abortion, and Murder
abbie_'s review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
toze'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence