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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Abandonment, Classism
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Very strong and immersive writing, particularly for a novella.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A spare, stunning novella. Really not a word out of place, no excess, just a beautifully written story of an “average man” who chooses to do the right thing, bravely, and take a stand again institutionalized evil instead of looking away. In this case, evil is the Catholic Church in 1980s Ireland, and more specifically the Magdalene laundries. This quiet Irish man (himself born out of wedlock but raised by his mother, who was a servant In the home of a wealthy childless couple) stumbles upon the evil being committed by local nuns who run both the school that his four daughters attend and a Magdalene laundry/baby farm. Details are limited, but it’s clear that the townsfolk ( esp. the women) are aware but ignore/victim blame etc. The protagonist decides on Christmas Eve to return to the convent and take the young teen out of the coal shed where she’s locked, and bring her home, walking through the village in the snow past all the judging eyes on his way. Brilliant to end the book before he gets home to his wife and daughters.
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes