Reviews with content warning for Violence - Grief Is the Thing with Feathers

A few moments were genuinely touching, but the majority of the book is indecipherable due to the unique writing style and the overuse of crass language was almost offensive given the subject matter. It was very difficult to emotionally invest in the characters of the story and it felt like very little actually happened.

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sxndaze's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective 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

3.25

It’s mesmerizing to read. The cadence is melodic in a sense and while the prose is confusing and dark, it represents grief in that way. It’s complicated and simple and a lot and not all at once. An interesting read to say the least.

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megelizabeth's review

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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.

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bookleafcrow's review

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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.

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abomine's review against another edition

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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.

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