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joshkiba13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a unique one for sure in terms of style. No chapters or breaks, just a nearly 400 page monologue-confession. This means we are locked in to Dolores and her personality right away. And it ended with a sfylistic device King uses from time to time with excerpts from fictional articles and journals, which I always like.
I loved Vera Donovan's character and how the book started with Dolores's story of the three ways Vera could be a bitch. Setting her up that way and then having her be such a vital piece in Dolores's life and choices was great.
King does great making us love to hate some characters and just flat out hate others. The development builds over time and eventually gets our stomachs turning and blood boiling. We really start to root for our mama bear protagonist.
It really feels like a person telling a story, since it jumps around time-wise and is filled with rambles, Maine slang, and such. Several of her phrases made me smile while reading.
Some of my favorite parts were the little touches of horror, like Vera's hallucinations of dust bunnies and wires, and Dolores's subsequent nightmares. Perhaps I need to read a true King horror like The Shining . . .
Overall it was an intriguing read that came to surprise me at the end. Stellar character development and a unique style.
". . .the love a natural mother feels for her children [is] the strongest love there is in the world, and it's the deadliest. There's no bitch on earth like a mother frightened for her kids . . . In the end, it's the bitches of the world who abide."
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Child death
siobhanward's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Incest
Minor: Car accident
taliatalksbooks's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Car accident, Death of parent, Incest, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
jlothian'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Bullying, Death, Murder, Child abuse, Blood, Excrement, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Toxic relationship
nobiting33's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Incest, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Car accident and Child abuse
jaclynszick's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
imstephtacular's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Cursing, Murder, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Excrement, Gore, Car accident, Chronic illness, and Dementia
Minor: Pregnancy, War, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts
karamelka_kar19'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
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Car accident and Child death
queserasara'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Incest, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse
Minor: Car accident
keroseberry's review
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Murder, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Car accident and Racial slurs