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tofutofutofu'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Death, and Car accident
Minor: Self harm, Physical abuse, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Incest, and Drug abuse
balladofreadingqueer's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
The story centers on Amadeo and to a lesser extent his daughter Angel. The 5 wounds could refer to Amadeo (the jobless, alcoholic penitent who wants to be a better man), Angel (the teenage single mother trying to get her GED), Yolanda (the grandmother dying of a brain tumour and trying to keep her family together, Lizette (the teenage single mother with no family and limited options) and Brianna (the virgin teacher desperate for acceptance). Or the 5 wounds could address the issues that impact many of the characters familial tension, desire to be accepted, desire for fulfilment, poverty and illness/health.
I enjoyed following this family of 4 generations through the trials and tribulations of 1 year of family life for this Latine New Mexican family. My favourite subplot was the queer relationship between Lizette and Angel as they found ways to go to school, take care of their babies and show each other the love and affection missing from their own lives. Even though in the end their relationship did not last as one girl succumbed to the dangers of being an at-risk mother. Whereas Amadeo and Ángel seem to have improved by the end of the book and grown in themselves and in their relationships.
Minor: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Drug use, Incest, Pregnancy, Rape, and Self harm
atamano's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Car accident, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
annreadsabook'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? Yes
5.0
The novel opens by introducing us to 33-year-old Amadeo Padilla, who is set to play Jesus in a local Holy Week procession (the book's title is a reference to the five wounds of Christ during His crucifixion). To Amadeo, this role is a manifestation of his own personal path towards redemption, but when his fifteen-year-old daughter Angel shows up pregnant on his doorstep, his world is turned upside-down. From there, we follow the Padilla family over the course of a year--through a messy, chaotic series of events and poor decision-making that will change and challenge them all.
Valdez Quade crafts a wonderfully vivid and, at times, humorous tale of a family that leans on each other despite all of their individual shortcomings and character flaws; it is a story of love, loss, redemption, forgiveness, and family. This book is filled to the brim with messy characters, family dysfunction, and, through it all, heartwarming nuggets. What makes this novel unique, in my opinion, is the way in which each of the characters is deeply flawed yet still somehow lovable (except for one character in particular…)--that's all Valdez Quade's amazing character building at play, and I am such a fan. I felt that it was just the right length (but honestly, I never wanted it to end), and the characters are portrayed so vividly it felt as though I walking around with them around Las Penas, New Mexico.
If you're someone who loves a good character-driven family drama, I highly recommend The Five Wounds!
Graphic: Pregnancy, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction and Homophobia
kitsune_kae'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
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Car accident, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Mental illness
Moderate: Self harm and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Incest
keatynbergsten'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Death, Self harm, and Rape
sjanke2'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, and Addiction
Moderate: Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Pregnancy, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Abandonment, Abortion, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Cursing, and Child abuse
carireadsbooksandtarot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Physical abuse, Rape, and Self harm