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mraddd's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Police brutality
katewhite77'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
It could be argued that you have to suspend your disbelief plot wise but I can forgive it. Oh god can I forgive it because otherwise this story could not have been told and it needed to be told. It could also be said that this novel is less about plot and more about the frailties of human nature in extreme circumstances.
The novel tells the story of one women's elicit affair during the early days of the Troubles in Belfast. The writing is exquisite.
Yes Cushla makes questionable decisions at times but don't we all. Sometimes they are just part of being being human and a good one at that.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying and Police brutality
jaswoahreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Infidelity, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Miscarriage, Police brutality, and Sexual harassment
ramreadsagain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
“Booby trap. Incendiary device. Gelignite. Nitroglycerine. Petrol bomb. Rubber bullets. Saracen. Internment. The Special Powers Act. Vanguard. The vocabulary of a 7-year-old child now.”
Cushla, a young Catholic school teacher, lives in a 'mixed' (but largely Protestant) town near Belfast, in the 70's amid The Troubles. She becomes a bit too involved in the life of Davy, a boy in the class she teaches, from a poor Catholic family living in a Protestant estate. She becomes much too involved with Michael, an older, highly educated, married Protestant barrister. While these actions might only have personal consequences in other times and places, they put her in a very precarious position within her divided community.
I am ashamed to admit that most of my knowledge of this part of Northern Ireland's history comes from Derry Girls, so I feel like I've learnt a lot here.
This is one of those books you come out of in a bit of a daze. It's a proper slowburn, then the final quarter just throws everything at you. The author has done an amazing job at immersing the reader into the time period, with descriptions of clothing, food, and overall mood creating an atmospheric 70's working class time capsule.
It's very well-written and pulls no punches. I did find the plot itself a bit... predictable? Essentially, it's exactly what I would expect from a literary book of this kind. Ticks boxes, I suppose. I was also not entirely convinced by the romance.
However, I know I'll remember this book for a long time, and I'm very happy to have read it. Absolutely a recommendation from me!
Graphic: Gun violence, Police brutality, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
kjb2003's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Sexual content, Police brutality, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
happyknitter2020'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? It's complicated
5.0
A insight into the daily lived experience of the community during conflict in Ireland.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
katymat18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Gun violence and Police brutality
Minor: Death and Murder
rly's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and War
hapennybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Murder
reads_eats_explores'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
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Murder, and War