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talin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal cruelty
fjerda's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? No
4.0
‘We used to think she would turn up one day and say it had all been a test.’ Porter knows grief intimately and was able to make my chest feel heavy with a talented ease. The book is bitter and the book is hopeful. A rewarding read.
I would recommend annotating as you read.
I would recommend annotating as you read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Grief, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
megelizabeth's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
"I plucked one jet feather from my hood and left it on his forehead, for, his, head.
For a souvenir, for a warning, for a lick of night in the morning.
For a little break in the mourning."
This was my third time reading this book, and I previously absolutely loved it, but sadly enjoyed it a bit less this time around. I still appreciated the bold writing style and vivid, unique exploration of grief, loss, family life, and parenthood, and it's certainly a poignant read and one that I won't forget, but this time I found myself feeling more irritated by the pretension and a lot less emotionally connected to the characters and story (there's a deliberately distant tone, but I still felt much more connected during previous reads).
It's a shame that I don't love this book as much now as I previously did, but I'd still recommend it as a super interesting and weird and haunting little read.
This was my third time reading this book, and I previously absolutely loved it, but sadly enjoyed it a bit less this time around. I still appreciated the bold writing style and vivid, unique exploration of grief, loss, family life, and parenthood, and it's certainly a poignant read and one that I won't forget, but this time I found myself feeling more irritated by the pretension and a lot less emotionally connected to the characters and story (there's a deliberately distant tone, but I still felt much more connected during previous reads).
It's a shame that I don't love this book as much now as I previously did, but I'd still recommend it as a super interesting and weird and haunting little read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death of parent
michael_richter's review
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol and Animal cruelty
bookleafcrow's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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? No
4.5
I read this book in one sitting upon recommendation of a friend, and it more than lived up to my few expectations. This book is a quick, easy read on the surface, but the content makes it a bit tougher to digest, as well as the chaotic style. Whilst I wouldn't say this book is for everyone, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and believe it to have one of the best depictions of children coping with parental bereavement in anything I've read. Very crass and abstract at times, but very sincere to the concept of sudden bereavement and single parenthood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexual content
Minor: Violence and Vomit
abomine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very real, messy, darkly funny, and ultimately hopeful portrayal of grief and loss and healing in a family. Anyone who's lost a loved one will definitely find an empathetic literary shoulder to lean on here. Some familiarity with Emily Dickinson and Ted Hughes before reading is helpful, but not necessary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty
darkefyres's review
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Death of parent, and Animal death
Minor: Sexual content
waybeyondblue's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Grief
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