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brenncocoa'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Stalking, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Vomit, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Abortion
rory_john14's review
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Xenophobia, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Mass/school shootings
thepurplebookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
What a nice feeling it is to end the reading year on a very good book! 🙂
Outside of considerations of prose (the style of which I really enjoyed here), the effective conveying of dialect (which I was really able to appreciate given my partner is from the North of Ireland), or the satisfying depth of the book's character work... I primarily want to praise Milkman for its excellent (and most definitely, feminism-informed) theming on the actual intersection of axes of oppression – or forms of discrimination – as experienced within the context of a (rather complex) civil war (in this specific case, the Irish Troubles), and the experience of intimidation, fear and trauma on both a personal and a communal level. There was so much nuanced thought put into the substance of this text; a lot of hard, heart-hitting moments as well, that I could personally relate to, or relate to by proxy, in a way, given my now more personal connection to Irish culture and that particular chapter of Irish history. This is definitely one I would happily recommend!
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: War
The story centres on a female character who is being stalked by a prominent member of her community, and takes place during the Irish Troubles.royze's review against another edition
Moderate: Stalking and War
elliecaholic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I think the writing style also helps to depict the community where the character lives, and how their scrutiny of each others actions has such negative impacts on their relationships and happiness. It's incredibly challenging to read about a 40-something year old mans pursuit of a barely 18 year old woman being blindly accepted while there is clear homophobia and religious bias.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Sexism, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Misogyny
immi_rae'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
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Misogyny, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Rape
clare_dv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Stalking and War
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Sexual harassment
humanskeleton'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
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Suicide and Stalking
chanatova'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
2.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Police brutality
Minor: Homophobia
lindsaylhunter'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
4.0
One moment this favourite sibling, the second eldest boy, the sixteen-year-old and the most calm and beloved of that family, was making his way over the street towards his nervous, panicked brother, to discourse with him, once again to try to soothe him in his wild nuclear distraction. Next, this teenager was on the ground with his head completely gone. Not ever, not even after the commotion died down, did anybody find it.
I genuinely cannot believe I managed to finish this book. Equal parts captivating and utterly confusing, I've never felt such relief to close a book for the final time whilst equally wishing it not to end.
I completely understand why this wouldn't be for everyone (the prose is absolutely killer throughout), but I think in a market over-saturated with accounts of how society was during the Troubles, this book breathes new life into such a turbulent time.
Graphic: Stalking and Murder
Moderate: Animal death