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librarymouse's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The voice of the narrator, the militarism, and the pacing of the novel really reminded me of All Quiet on the Western Front. It's slow paced, but also a quick and enjoyable read, spending quite a lot of time in the narrator's head.
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Death, Kidnapping, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Medical content and Slavery
Slavery tagged because of "the help," as a subaltern class that is essentially enslaved.mgcalder's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
Such an interesting book. Whilst it's starts out at a reasonably slow pace there are just enough little hooks to keep drawing you in deeper and deeper. And whilst the pace picks up dramatically towards the finish it still feels very calm to read.
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Deportation, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: War, Kidnapping, and Slavery
nickc777's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A much more interesting and less adventurous/YA-esque handling than I was expecting. The tone of voice is often dispassive, almost calculating, which I thought might grate quickly and avoid emotion, but I did soon enough warm to. Lanchester rarely classifies characters and actions into right or wrong, and story feels at once clear and personal.
I did sometimes find the pattern of building happiness only to suddenly dash it again a little repetitive after a while, similar to Grapes of Wrath, but overall an excellent read
I did sometimes find the pattern of building happiness only to suddenly dash it again a little repetitive after a while, similar to Grapes of Wrath, but overall an excellent read
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Violence, War, Blood, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Xenophobia, Confinement, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, and Classism
loonylovegood's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
The idea of this book as a post-climate change dystopia is great and important but it lacks in its execution. The story is missing depth, concerning both the plot and the characters. Themes and characters should have been explored instead of ditching them right away. Unnecessary details are explained whereas important questions remain unanswered. The government desperately tries to convince people to 'breed' when there are 'others' out there that would do anything to be able to live in what is left of the UK. Isn't that a solution to the problem? One that would make the entire storyline completely unnecessary. And why are the failed defenders put to sea instead of simply being killed? All in all, not a great dystopia. Go and read one of the other great ones out there instead!
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Racism, Slavery, and Xenophobia
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