Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

4 reviews

therevallison's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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? No

5.0

What an absolutely beautiful book. Ghosts and birds, haunted pasts and hopeful futures, tears laughter. "Other Birds" is a magical book that I will treasure and remember.

And please read the acknowledgment when you're done. 

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chimichannika's review against another edition

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challenging reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This book was really quite good and ended on a beautifully hopeful&optimistic note, made all the more meaningful because of all that the characters had been through in their lives, but a HEAVY disclaimer to proceed with extreme caution if you are a survivor of domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual assault, or have religious trauma, as this book does heavily deal with those themes. 

The premise of the book—without giving specific spoilers—, in the end, is people with varying kinds of horrible pasts living next to each other, by chance, and making this charming corner of the world a better place through their gradually deepening bonds of friendship and camaraderie. It ends on a hopeful note, and is truly about the love permeating throughout, but it does extensively handle those potentially-triggering/retraumatizing topics, at length, for multiple portions of the book. 

I still consider it a good book, but would only recommend it to specific people with specific disclaimers, and also a note to please care for your own well-being if any of those topics can be especially triggering or distressing. I’m off to go seek out some comfort media because I physically reacted to the way some of the content triggered me, and need to go un-tense my muscles now. 

And yet, the book had portions of charming and sleepy loveliness in it too, the way the characters began forming this “group of misfits” was so sweet, and the last couple chapters were so satisfying, showing where the characters were at now. 

One other thing— I mentioned in the content warnings section a brief description of animal violence— the animal is okay, it survives, is loved, and treated very well after it’s rescued. just wanted to note that the animal is more-than-okay ♡ 

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r_clark's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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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hippiekender's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

4.0

I adore the found family aspect of this book. It’s devastating that they all felt so unloved as children, but I’m so glad they all found each other at the Dellawisp. I was so invested in finding out their back stories and rooting for all of their happiness. 
The “ghost stories” were interesting and unique. I enjoyed the history and point of view each one offered.

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