Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani

5 reviews

danaburrreads's review

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, and Grief

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Religious bigotry

jedore's review

emotional sad 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? 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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Terminal illness, War, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Antisemitism and Bullying

kimveach's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Death, Bullying, Child death, Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Grief, Genocide, War, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

oceanwriter's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

When I really enjoy a book, I procrastinate finishing it. Alas, eventually I must come to know the ending. I put this one off as long as I could and I loved every minute. I miss it already!

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Child death and Death of parent

katieimre's review

emotional hopeful relaxing 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, War, and Death

Moderate: Child death