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lindsaylhunter's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I hate saying it because this is a book local to me but it was just very middle of the road. I wanted more from it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
lily_peach's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Grief, Sexism, Cancer, Death, Child death, Violence, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Vomit, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Child abuse
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, and Animal death
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Rapture is the set in a fictional Northern Ireland village called Ballylack in 1993. Hannah is eleven years old when one by one her classmates become sick and die. After their death they each make one visit to Hannah, sharing details of their life on the other side. Hannah’s voice is a delight - a perfect blend of perceptive and naïveté. The author also manages to create an in-depth picture of the the village and its varied inhabitants. I really felt as if I knew them all. The mystery of what is causing the illness wasn’t that hard to figure out, but I don’t think that is really the point. Once Hannah herself became sick the tension really ramped up as family members argued over how she should be treated and the reader wonder whether she would survive. A thoroughly readable story with interesting insights into mass trauma, and survival. It’s an interesting lens through which to consider the legacy of The Troubles.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
katiewhocanread's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Body horror, Toxic friendship, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Body shaming and Suicidal thoughts
amelieeee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Medical content, Terminal illness, Grief, Child death, Medical trauma, and Death
Minor: Cursing
saloule's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Minor: Racism
wordsofclover's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
tay_af's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Definitely Carson’s best work so far and very captivating, but also deeply sad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Child death
margoo0o's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
5.0
What a brilliant book capturing life during the Troubles in Northern Ireland but from a completely different perspective. The history is part of the plot but it’s Hannah’s life that takes centre stage. Sometimes with books it takes a chapter or two for me to know I’ll love it - with this one I knew after the first few pages that it was going to be brilliant.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse
becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
I have been looking forward to reading this for months after seeing glowing reviews from some of my favourite Irish authors. It did not leave me disappointed. This book invites you into a small rural community in Northern Ireland where children are dying of a sudden and mysterious illness. It might not be something that people want to read during a pandemic and I was a little hesitant at first, but after just a few pages I was utterly captivated.
Hannah is ten years old and part of the class of children who are dying. She lives with her strict religious parents and begins to question everything as this epidemic begins. Jan Carson wonderfully creates Hannah’s young voice and her chapters tore me apart at times as she is burdened with things at such a young age. Her sense of guilt over what is happening is utterly heartbreaking and you would love to rush in and tell her she has done nothing wrong. Though we do get other points of view, Hannah’s was the most powerful for me as she dealt with such challenging and overwhelming thoughts and emotions while going through an horrific ordeal.
Carson explores many things within this book, from religion, to small community relations, to family, and much more. I found this book to be very powerful with many nuances to living in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. Carson’s writing evokes so many emotions while reading that you become utterly transfixed and end up reading on the edge of your seat due to the tension. This is a brilliant book that will stay with me for a while.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a copy of this book. This review is unbiased and honest.
Hannah is ten years old and part of the class of children who are dying. She lives with her strict religious parents and begins to question everything as this epidemic begins. Jan Carson wonderfully creates Hannah’s young voice and her chapters tore me apart at times as she is burdened with things at such a young age. Her sense of guilt over what is happening is utterly heartbreaking and you would love to rush in and tell her she has done nothing wrong. Though we do get other points of view, Hannah’s was the most powerful for me as she dealt with such challenging and overwhelming thoughts and emotions while going through an horrific ordeal.
Carson explores many things within this book, from religion, to small community relations, to family, and much more. I found this book to be very powerful with many nuances to living in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. Carson’s writing evokes so many emotions while reading that you become utterly transfixed and end up reading on the edge of your seat due to the tension. This is a brilliant book that will stay with me for a while.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a copy of this book. This review is unbiased and honest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content