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christinaanna's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Pregnancy, Sexism, Animal death, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Bullying, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Drug use, Violence, and Vomit
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- 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
Kent Haruf’s Plainsong trilogy was quiet and understated, meaning for me it was best saved for when I was in the right reading mood. It is a very loose trilogy. All three novels take place in the town of Holt, Colorado and some characters appear in more than one book, but each centres on a different group of characters. I suspect they could be read as standalones and out of order with very little lost apart from a degree of immersion. The writing is unadorned but surprisingly affective and Haruf captures both people and place in a beautiful but melancholic way. They are decent ordinary people dealing as best they can with the hardships life has thrown at them and others.
Plainsong is the first in the trilogy and possibly my favourite. I found the theme of found family to be well-done and enjoyed seeing teen mother Victoria grow into herself and work out what she wanted from her life as much as I enjoyed seeing the batchelor McPheron brothers open up to the world after they agree to take her in.
Plainsong is the first in the trilogy and possibly my favourite. I found the theme of found family to be well-done and enjoyed seeing teen mother Victoria grow into herself and work out what she wanted from her life as much as I enjoyed seeing the batchelor McPheron brothers open up to the world after they agree to take her in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence
namizaela's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This is the first of what I hope will be many book reviews from now on!
I love books like these–books that are quiet and understated yet show the full spectrum of how humans can be. There are many different kinds of relationships in the book, but the one that stuck with me the most was the relationship between the McPherons and Victoria. They were so kind to her, and I cried multiple times just thinking about the unconditional love they showed her in their own way.
The other aspect I loved about this book was the small-town aspect, and how everyone's stories started to intertwine by the end. I felt a real sense of community while reading it.
I won't forget this book for a long time.
I love books like these–books that are quiet and understated yet show the full spectrum of how humans can be. There are many different kinds of relationships in the book, but the one that stuck with me the most was the relationship between
The other aspect I loved about this book was the small-town aspect, and how everyone's stories started to
I won't forget this book for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
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