Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker

8 reviews

micallab's review

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adventurous dark 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

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coconutoolong's review

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emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

2.5

This is the second book (potentially last) in the Golem and the Jinni series. Although the experience might have been more impactful, I find this book can stand alone in terms of plot.  It follows the friendship of a golem and a jinni bonding over secretly living amongst humans.  I found the first half of the book quite slow. Overall, it was a nice story about the bonds of friendship, realizing mistakes, and caring for others. 

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obviousthings's review

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readingbooksinisrael's review

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-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? Yes

1.75


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crownoflaurel's review against another edition

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

4.25


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ehmannky's review

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emotional 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

5.0

Gorgeous, fabulous and beautiful, just like the original book. I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did considering that
Ahmad and Chava are broken up for the last 200 or so pages of the book
, but I loved it. I love how Ahmad and Chava's experiences as immigrants are so front and center (him losing his language, them both being changed by a new place, her trying to assimilate, etc). I love that this is a book that is essentially about the fear of being known, and how hard and scary it is to be loved and love in return. I loved where all of the characters' storylines took them (especially Anna!). Dima was a bit more difficult to love, but I'm sure Wecker could get me to change my mind in the next installment if she's brought back. 

I am curious, since Wecker has stated she's interested in writing a third book, how she'll progress Chava and Ahmad's relationship. Now that we've seen them repeat their most toxic traits (her running away from the problem and working/subsuming herself to someone else, him isolating himself and ignoring community) to the most extreme we've seen, I wonder if in the next book Wecker will let them identify these traits in themselves. I'd also love to see Ahmad and Chava go to a movie either in
Chicago or New York
. The ending is so bittersweet, but that final paragraph just sets up so much potential for hope for their future. 

Whatever the next book is, I am there. Though I just feel like I want to petition for a solid happy ending for everyone involved, even though I know I'll like whatever Wecker gives me. 

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mandkips's review

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adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


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trixiez's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.5


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