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burnsbooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is the second book I have read by Vigdis Hjorth. It is amazing. Very sad and contemplative. It is a complex portait of a woman dealing with childhood trauma and a family that refuses to acknowledge it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Rape, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Mental illness, Incest, Grief, and Gaslighting
laurennn's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
laurathit's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Incest
alingtori's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
There's just something about Vigdis Hjorth's writing that gets me. Maybe it's the tone? the subject matter? the structure? How the story unfolded wasn't even dramatic, considering what the big secret is. There's even no resolution but it doesn't make me like the book less. Instead, I appreciate how realistic it is. It's not a pretty story--we don't get to see the family reconcile, we don't get to see Bergljot truly heal (if she ever will)--but it's a necessary one. This is the first book that I've read that talks about sexual assault in the family and it made me think a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent and Mental illness
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