Scan barcode
frankchester'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: Rape, Violence, Medical content, Gun violence, War, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Death, and Gore
carlaabra'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
The writing is amazing, cynical yet eloquent, with lots of moments of levity interspersed. I was reminded pleasantly of Vonnegut’s biting irreverence and outlandish plots.
It’s mostly third person but changes as needed. The story unfolds in short chapters that occur chronologically. These chapters mostly narrate our main family, but occasionally deviate to side characters or pivotal events. This seems frivolous at the time of reading, but every chapter intersects with our main story by the end. These seemingly dropped but later interwoven threads give the story a wholeness and sense of context in history.
I had no idea how close to true events this novel stuck - it only makes it more poignant. The plot slows briefly around page 200 and then again around page 370, however for such a long and deeply historical book it was remarkably readable. The characters are larger than life and so lovable. I hesitate to call them realistic, since they can verge on caricatures at times, but they work with the story. Again, very Vonnegut.
For a book that starts out so mundane, and whose writing is intentionally ironic, I admit- I almost cried multiple times. This is war, after all.
Graphic: Violence, War, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence, Torture, Medical content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
This is a WWII book. There is no HEA. People are killed for no reason at all, tortured by the enemy and by the conditions they were forced to fight in. It’s brutal and describes real events.56bumblebees'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Medical content, Grief, Blood, Animal cruelty, War, Physical abuse, Torture, Gun violence, and Colonisation
Moderate: Excrement, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent
bethvance'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
5.0
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Medical content, Police brutality, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Abortion, Animal death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Outing, Physical abuse, and Suicide