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val_so_'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Abortion, and War
Moderate: Dementia and Alcohol
serenspace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Dementia, Grief, and War
average's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Dementia, Car accident, Abortion, and War
lautreamont's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Excrement, and Dementia
Minor: Alcoholism
sketchydelusion'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Abortion, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, and Dementia
leemonade's review against another edition
4.25
What I really wanted to say was that a monster is not such a terrible thing to be. … To be a monster is to be a hybrid signal, a lighthouse: both shelter and warning at once. … Perhaps there is a monstrous origin to it, after all. Perhaps to lay hands on your child is to prepare him for war.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Dementia, and War
jamesliggins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, and War
lexipassno's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, and Alcohol
honorablemmmention'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
4.75
Vuong's book is much more of a meditative collection of poems than a story with a middle beginning or end, openly breaking the confines or genre. It goes nowhere, simply because it does not want to. Go into it expecting to read a letter, not an adventure, as it doesn't end with a conclusion, as much as a full stop.
No one wanted to like this book more than I, and I can't say I didn't, but be warned that there is so much animal cruelty, and in pretty graphic detail. Like it's a full-on motif.
I have never had so much fun underlining and annotating, but that's mainly where the fun begins and ends. The amount of breathtaking absolutely gorgeous lines in this is endless, and I weep at both the beauty, and for those who do not care for literature. Because they are missing out.
(It's been a few months now, and what I've noticed is how much I miss reading it. I miss the characters, the style, the story. The sum is definetly better than its parts.)
Graphic: Addiction and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Homophobia, Racism, Violence, Dementia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War
Minor: Car accident
sunsetcity'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Trafficking, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War