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danaburrreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, War, and Grief
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Religious bigotry
cayleybp's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Child death
jedore's review
- 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
"Who waits around for a compliment? Ask for it. Then take it. And when you do, you realize you knew the truth all along and you didn't need anybody else's opinion in the first place. No one has to tell you that you did a great job."
I call books like this "Hallmark" books. (Probably similar to what other people call "Beach Reads.") It was not bad, not great. Not unique. Not memorable.
Character development was good, but I didn't fully bond with any of them. They just felt a bit flat to me.
The story was a typical WWII one. (I'm not going to say any more because I don't like giving spoilers.)
I did appreciate learning about the real life story of the SS Arandora Star. This was a new one for me....horribly TRAGIC.
Although my review is lukewarm, it wasn't a chore to read this book so it went quickly. If you just like an interesting character-driven story, don't rule it out. At this point in my life, I'm a bit more book snobby because I'm really looking for books that shake me up in some way.
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Terminal illness, War, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Antisemitism and Bullying
rosa_inverno's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
A little meandering sure, but as the threads of the various lives weave together, I felt more of a sense of hope than any book that
Moderate: Death of parent, War, and Death
Minor: Religious bigotry
jhansell's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: War and Death of parent
Minor: Child death
kimveach's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Death, Bullying, Child death, Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Grief, Genocide, War, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
oceanwriter's review
- 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
The Good Left Undone is a touching story about family and lineage. Anina, the youngest of the Cabrelli women finds herself interested in her family history and seeks the stories her grandmother Matelda has to tell. These stories predominantly focus on her mother Domenica's life.
I loved so much about this story, but my favorite part was the involvement of Catholicism. It's not often I read more mainstream books that paint such an authentic picture of living life while maintaining these traditions. I really appreciated the reverence. Secondly, the writing was beautiful and there were many thought-provoking passages that I need to go back and re-read. All in all, a wonderful book.
Graphic: War, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent
katieimre's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Grief, War, and Death
Moderate: Child death