Reviews

The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton

aanikaamin's review

3.0

honestly compulsively readable and enjoyable but had to read this as if it was a mix between satire and self-insert AU AO3 fanfic starring the hosts of red scare and a loyal listener of the pod. Otherwise it would be too insufferable and unbelievable.

emotion_null's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.0

kate_cunningham's review

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

jrow's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

It’s was like listening to a bunch of Karens complain the entire book. I only finished the book because I have a problem with marking things as DNF.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Vomit, Suicide, Alcohol, Body shaming, Classism, Lesbophobia, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, and Bullying

Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Outing, and Pedophilia

emiliaduncan's review

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

aliena_jackson's review

3.0

It’s better if you read it as a satire.

tbax616's review

dark reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

rrhea's review

1.5

i could litch see the radicalisation/terrorist attack twist from a mile away, the only thing about it that was surprising (surprising is generous, really and truly it was ridiculous and unrealistic) was the fact that virginia's co conspirator in the terrorist attack was her ex from literally year TEN... that hated her the whole book... and not the girl she has been radicalising the whole book? come on now... maybe it would have made sense if virginia had been a true populist radicalising the people and was an excellent orator, or even if her ideology made any sense?? like she was religious, but she seemed to study webster more than the damn bible... but her whole "revolution" was about bringing christianity to... literally AMERICA. like her whole grievance with the world was that other people were less religious than her... moretime she put off getting baptised because she didn't think the PRIEST was worthy. they should have just not bothered including the side characters because they were so flat and boring. The only interesting one was the reverend, and the things that make him interesting are barely explored, and treated as a terrible thing by the ridiculous main character. one of those books that genuinely has a promising premise but ended up being so SILLY that i actually want to rewrite it with a plot that makes sense, main characters who less insufferable and characters who aren't written to be literally the most annoying people ever on purpose to make the main characters look like they are in the right when they absolutely never are. also the terrorist attack made no sense, we never see virginia and isobel's viewpoints align and it makes no sense how they managed to go from hating each other to getting back together and seeing eye to eye in literally weeks. genuinely unserious, should have never tried to read something described as "dark academia" because it will never be good for me. 

marvelmama19's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• 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

5.0

lesya's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• 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