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jessiejonesbentley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Moderate: Grief, Suicide attempt, Classism, Death, Alcohol, Blood, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, and Sexism
Minor: Racism
wynnebirchmaple's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
At the sentence level, author Kathleen Rooney, has a beautiful sense of poetry and narrative. Rooney knows when to quip, when to use specialized language, when to insert posh French to elevate the moment, and one to just lay raw emotions bare. She is truly an artist.
This book is not plot driven, as Lillian does not victimize nor does she allow herself to be victimized. At times she is in potential danger walking the streets of New York at night. There is no clear pattern as to when Lillian will be triggered and immerse readers in her somewhat painful past and when she will step off the grid and face to face with death which she manages to defy even at 85.
I enjoyed witnessing Lillian look mortality right in the eye and accept that her time is coming and that even though she’s reexamining her life not seeking remediation or change.Albeit she continues moving forward. We all end up in the same place big marks, relevance, impact or not. Lillian simply shows reader that a rich life is best experienced in the relationships one engages in and in using one’s capacity for innovation. It was oddly peaceful.
Graphic: Infidelity, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
nadletab's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
sammies_shelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Favorite quotes:
"This, I imagine, is why I love walking in the city, taking to the streets in pursuit of some spontaneous and near-arbitrary objective. If one knocks oneself out of one's routine--and in doing so knocks others gently out of theirs--then one can now and again create these momentary opportunities to be better than one is."
"I am proud that I fought so hard against the world, relieved that I made my fragile truce with it. I can greet it now, from time to time, as it really is."
Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcoholism and Miscarriage
issyjanejane's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, and Cursing
Moderate: Mental illness and Self harm
izzyf16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Moderate: Self harm and Suicide attempt
rezelazny's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt