Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King

20 reviews

takarakei's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I am not a big short story reader as I typically like to spend a whole book getting to know characters. However Lily King is one of my favorite authors so I had to give these a try. I certainly enjoyed some stories more than others. I like King’s writing style as she has a great ability to paint a scene and conjure nostalgia. I personally liked the titular story the most.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Medical trauma, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Medical content, Alcoholism, and Death of parent

Minor: Body horror and Abortion

I seriously recommend skipping the first story Creature if concerned about

graphic descriptions of SA. Hotel Seattle story also has SA/rape

libbyhb's review

emotional reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is such a cozy set of stories. I was immediately drawn into the way Lily King writes (this is my first time reading her) - it's simple, but illustrative and emotionally grounded. I felt like I could relate so strongly to certain moments in each story, even if the character wasn't that similar to me. I especially loved Creature, Five Tuesdays in Winter, and When in the Dordogne. I picked this up on an impulse after seeing a booktuber talk about it, and immediately put Writers & Lovers on hold after finishing it. I can definitely see Lily King becoming a new favorite author of mine.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Homophobia

Moderate: Death of parent and Alcoholism

sjanke2's review

lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Death of parent

lucyduller's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

It's a book with stories about love, all the kinds of love, ugly, beautiful and flawed. But gosh, it's so much more. I loved Hotel Seattle the most, I think it was the first one I read and realised the genius of Lily King. Some of them I was left feeling uncomfy and tense, although I think that was the point. 
The last story was another favourite, I didn't get it until the very end, I think because I was trying to rush it slightly. But wow, it left me feeling stunned. 
So many nuances, love at different ages, my first Lily King read but certainly not my last. 
Perfect to read in February, it provides some warmth in these cold months, but also embraces the dready bleakness of this time of year. So well done. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism, Abandonment, Ableism, Addiction, and Violence

Minor: Homophobia

ellalucys's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Rape, and Homophobia

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abortion

ksheaffs's review

emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Death

bella_cavicchi's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I've recommended Lily King's wonderful Writers & Lovers more times than I can count. Her writing appears effortless, and I think she has a real knack for crafting characters that are as flawed as you and me because ... that's being human! The same is true in her short story collection, which houses many, many a gem. (I mean, "When in the Dordogne"! Just excellent.)

I appreciate another reviewer who noted that the nostalgia in which these stories seep -- they are all set in a somewhat distant past of the 50s-90s -- also captures a distinct culture of whiteness. And while I don't think that's a "bad" thing (that is, that it is a collection of white stories), finishing it has me interrogating once again the "classic" literary style/tradition it seeks to emulate. If you pick it up -- and I hope you do! -- I urge you to do the same.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, Death of parent, Death, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism

catherineclark's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent

Minor: Abortion

stef_'s review

1.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Alcohol

kayleigh_is_booked's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Murder