Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir

5 reviews

ispeakpurple's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Misogyny

Minor: Abortion and Murder

Essie's baby is

the result of years of rape at the hands of her older brother.

paperknotbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

2.75

The story and characters are engaging, but they felt lifeless and cliche. Some characters, such as the Pastor and Essie’s mom, had personas which never fully developed. I never understood their motives, or those of Liberty Bell. 

I like where the story ended up, but it was expected. There are too many gimmicky tropes plopped into the storyline, it is forced into with a predictable evolution. Too many “unseen” activities made my suspension of disbelief difficult.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Incest

Minor: Body shaming, Gun violence, Suicide, Gaslighting, and Classism

Cult activity is heavy theme in this book

kwurtzel3's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Rape, and Sexual assault

lozlox's review against another edition

inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

I enjoyed reading this book, Essie is a great main character. Roarke was likeable, as was his dynamic with Essie, but early-Roarke seemed to disappear as the book progressed. 
I gave it just short of 4 stars because it lacked the depth I’d expected. I feel this is, in part, a result of the pacing speeding up big time just past the halfway point. Some might prefer it like that, but I found it strange for there to be such a light touch on such heavy topics. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Religious bigotry

Minor: Gun violence and Homophobia

otherworlds's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Torture, and Excrement

Minor: Alcoholism