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spookily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Child abuse, Excrement, and Hate crime
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Sexual content, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Dementia, and Forced institutionalization
marinapaso11'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Sexual content, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Ableism, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, and Child abuse
Moderate: Animal death and Dementia
Minor: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Dementia
draconia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Dementia, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
leona's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed the themes discussed in this book and I found them so incredibly relatable. It is particularly heartbreaking to see how Charlie is being abused and laughed at when he isn't capable of knowing better. I also picked up on some things that made me wonder if Charlie may have been autistic / on the autism spectrum, especially one scene where he remarks how his old teacher used to tie his hands around his chair to stop him fidgeting (I feel like this may have been a stim.) The moment with him attempting to learn how to make the bread rolls at the bakery was probably one of my favourite scenes, as it is one of the most detailed sections where we see how Charlie's brain used to function, and how he could learn but the impatience and lack of encouragement from others made it almost impossible. This scene really presses the need to be patient with people and recognise that all people learn differently. I also enjoyed the scene where Charlie gets drunk at the conference and argues with Nemur. I hate to use a cliche, but this book is very thought-provoking.
I had a couple of issues with the book though. Firstly, I felt like the pace dropped a bit near the middle of the book and my interest definitely started to wane a bit. This book is kind of plotless and winding, with lots of random flashbacks. This isn't necessarily a downside, but I didn't feel like the great quotes scattered throughout were always enough to completely hold my interest and make me feel inclined to pick it up. This is especially true because of my second point: the blurb and synopsis for this book I always see is way to spoiler-y
My last complaint is the female representation. I understand that a large part of this novel is around Charlie's intelligence developing at a disproportional rate to his emotional / sexual 'intelligence' (if you will). This leads to Charlie often describing women based on how attractive they are. It makes sense, but it didn't mean I was any less annoyed about it. I also kind of felt bad for Alice in this book, she was kind of treated like shit whilst Charlie was trying to banish the fear instilled in him by his mother, but then she came straight back. It just kind of rubbed me up the wrong way to hear about how attractive every woman he met was. Is it so much to ask to have a decent female character in a classic sci-fi novel?
Little rant over, I want to rate this book 4.5 stars. I enjoyed it immensely and would strongly recommend it, however I don't think it will make it in with my very favourite books.
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Child abuse
Minor: Death, Dementia, Grief, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Stalking
mayr3adsab00k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Grief, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Moderate: Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Dementia, Excrement, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Cultural appropriation
kylahspages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Abandonment, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Child abuse, Misogyny, Ableism, Animal death, and Panic attacks/disorders
carolinemillan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Forced institutionalization, and Misogyny
Minor: Abandonment and Dementia
amaya_jam'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Ableism and Bullying
Minor: Sexual content and Dementia
atlas_shruggs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
postal_kat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism and Child abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol and Dementia