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edhyndman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, and Child death
Minor: War
glitterdeww's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The response to this novel is overwhelmingly positive, and I firmly believe that I understand why... However 😅... I have a few criticisms. I think there are notable issues with this plot that I have rarely seen discussed, and I think I can mostly pin down the reasons why. So here we go...
I'm rating this 3.5 stars because, even with my criticisms, I enjoyed this and couldn't put it down after I was about 60% through it. So I will give it credit where credit is due. The author's creation of atmosphere is superbly done. I felt wrapped up in this book, like I could feel, smell, and taste just about every moment of the story. The focus on setting slows the pace of the novel, but it is done so well that I can't fault the decision. A+ on that aspect. Also the pivotal characters of the story as a whole felt very individual and realistic. I believe both the narrator, Frank, and his younger brother are an accurate depiction of adolescence maturing quickly in the face of violence.
But that said, there were hangups I had with the characters and the plot points of the novel. First off, the ways in which information was aquired in order to further the plot of the story through the eyes of these young boys felt like a big stretch. There were too many instances in which eavesdropping and happenstance are employed to further the plot through the eyes of these young boys. There's way too much luck happening there to be believable...
I know that this is set in the 1960s and in a small town in Minnesota. I get it, and I understand what the culture of that small town would inherently look like. I also understand that a main focus of the plot centers on a lot of Christian spirituality. The problem I encountered surrounding these aspects was the way in which this cast of characters was so skewed.
Their storylines are dictated based on tropes that are so tired and overdone. I was truly surprised to see the events laid out the way that they were and very few reviews acknowledge it. But as I said before, I feel like there's an obvious answer as to why. I am not the demographic of person whom would be the typical audience for this book. I think the typical audience for this sort of story looks far more like Frank and his living family... Straight, white, traditional, and masculine. The more someone's character, in the novel, became otherized from that demographic, the greater the degree their character would suffer. This was one of the main reasons that the plot was so easy to guess, because it's such a subversive tactic. And I'm very frustrated because I'm certain that so many people who praised themselves for guessing the things that we're going to happen next DID NOT notice that. Not because they couldn't, but because it's so ingrained in our culture to do that to certain types of characters. And what that does is further stereotypes. Which is tired and boring and lazy.
And yet, what did I say at the beginning.... I think I did like this story. Because everything else was done well enough. It's just written for people who wouldn't be bothered by it's messaging.
Graphic: Child death, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, and Suicide
carolynspeirs's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Cursing, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death, and Violence
kimveach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Addiction, Alcohol, Outing, Racism, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Death of parent, Cursing, and Cancer
audra_etta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Death, Child death, and Child abuse
shhanson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Racism, Murder, Grief, and Death
jonesbee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Animal cruelty