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shieldbearer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If nothing else, this quote is the soul of the story:
<quote> "Why do we not make the story more premium than life? It seems to me that we are making the story even inferior. We often make ourselves appear as though we are foolish people, and we make our voyage, which was an ennobled voyage, appear very normal and second rate. We could give your grandfather two arms, and could make him high-fidelity. We could give Brod what she deserves in the stead of what she gets. We could even find Augustine, Jonathan, and you could thank her, and Grandfather and I could embrace, and it could be perfect and beautiful, and funny, and usefully sad, as you say. We could even write your grandmother into your story. This is what you desire, yes? Which makes me think that perhaps we could write Grandfather into the story. Perhaps, and I am only uttering this, we could have him save your grandfather. He could be Augustine. August, perhaps. Or just Alex, if that is satisfactory to you. I do not think that there are any limits to how excellent we could make life seem.” </quote>
I have so many thoughts and feelings about this, and how it relates to the repeated urge of an audience to erode away the uncomfortable or sad aspects of literature- the "fan" response to Brokeback Mountain comes to mind. There is a lot of not so "premium" things in the novel, and this is the point the author is trying to make.
My one real sticking point is the Romani girl. I truly feel as if she could have been handled better, especially as shes' the only Romani character in the novel, and the establishment that her family was abusive on top of that does put a bitter taste in my mouth, and not in the bracing way I got from the rest of the novel.
Graphic: War, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexism, Hate crime, Infidelity, Grief, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Genocide, and Cursing
Moderate: Excrement, Suicide, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
lautreamont's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I earnestly laughed out loud many times and cried once reading this.
Of course, it can be quite experimental writing and not suited for everyone but if you are open to that its a wonderful book.
Graphic: Antisemitism, Domestic abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Rape
moonlighthepburn's review against another edition
1.0
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Antisemitism, Sexism, and Misogyny
roxyunderscored's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Genocide, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Suicide, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, and Antisemitism
flashandoutbreak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Pregnancy, Racism, Death, Suicide, Antisemitism, War, Genocide, Ableism, Blood, Sexual content, and Infidelity
emjames22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Antisemitism
strange_abalone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Violence, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Genocide, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, War, Death, Mental illness, Murder, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism
lambclown'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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Antisemitism, Suicide, Genocide, and Violence
Moderate: Rape and Pedophilia
bluebear1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Suicide, War, Genocide, Murder, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Rape, and Domestic abuse
illgiveyouahint's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I'm also questioning if I actually want the book at my home, or if I'll try to sell it.
Graphic: Pedophilia and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, War, Child death, Violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Antisemitism, Suicide, Rape, Infidelity, and Genocide