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rsutton06's review against another edition
4.0
This is a great piece of Canadian fiction. It is one of the few works of Can Lit with a queer woman at the centre of the plot. Whittall is definitely a good story teller. Her writing is tight yet descriptive.
I enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of the book. At the same time that the main character is going through her own romantic and growing troubles, the 1995 Referendum in Quebec is going on. The book takes place in Montreal so the lives of these characters are saturated in those events.
The plot does a nice 360 at the end which makes any loose ends tie up nicely. Readers who enjoy a good ending won't be disappointed.
Overall, a great piece of queer fiction.
I enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of the book. At the same time that the main character is going through her own romantic and growing troubles, the 1995 Referendum in Quebec is going on. The book takes place in Montreal so the lives of these characters are saturated in those events.
The plot does a nice 360 at the end which makes any loose ends tie up nicely. Readers who enjoy a good ending won't be disappointed.
Overall, a great piece of queer fiction.
cachoo1999's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
alanffm's review against another edition
3.0
Queer literature doesn't really speak to me, and I was not particularly pleased with the *major* event that happens about 3/4rs of the way through the book.
Besides those two things Bottle Rocket Hearts is a solid novel that I passively enjoyed reading. Would recommend.
Besides those two things Bottle Rocket Hearts is a solid novel that I passively enjoyed reading. Would recommend.
sovteck's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
A short, easily devoured tale of being young and queer and experiencing adventure and heartbreak and grief and the whole big world for the first time.
christajls's review against another edition
4.0
This review originally posted at Christa`s Hooked on Books -- http://christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-bottle-rocket-hearts-by-zoe.html
I want to start off by saying that this book completely blew me away. I picked it up from the library, barely knowing anything about it and I ended up devouring it in a single sitting and spending days thinking about it.
From the very first page this book is filled with very real and raw emotion. Eve is struggling to figure out what's going on around her and her place in it. On a basic level her struggle is one that we can all relate to. The search for one's one identity. I also found the writing incredibly intimate. As the reader you were right there listening to Eve's thoughts and feelings. She was so exposed and that made her seem incredibly real. At one point she claims “I feel like I'm having the world's slowest nervous breakdown”. Statements like this really helped you understand exactly how she was feeling in a particular situation and really made you stop and think.
The story itself was interesting and engaging. The characters are all very detailed and lively. Some of them will definitely surprise you. Whittal's writing is frank but creative. It doesn't hold back. In addition to Eve's internal struggle, there is also a great deal of social commentary. The novel places gay/lesbian rights alongside the Yes/No vote for Quebec independence. This was a time of conflict and confusion for many people in Canada. A time when identity was a crucial issue and for many people it still is. French Canadian and gay/lesbian identity, are both under represented in Canadian literature, it is nice to finally read something that gives them a voice.
This novel moved me. If I ever get the chance to meet Zoe Whittal I want to thank her for it. (I may hug her if she let me.) The intimate and honest writing really spoke to me. There were a lot of issues and problems Eve came across that I could relate to. I think there are a lot of people out there who could find a sense of comfort and unity in Bottle Rocket Hearts. For Canadians, for gays, lesbians and other members of the community, for young people trying to become adults, for anyone who has ever struggled with finding their own identity within a larger society – this book is for all of us.
I want to start off by saying that this book completely blew me away. I picked it up from the library, barely knowing anything about it and I ended up devouring it in a single sitting and spending days thinking about it.
From the very first page this book is filled with very real and raw emotion. Eve is struggling to figure out what's going on around her and her place in it. On a basic level her struggle is one that we can all relate to. The search for one's one identity. I also found the writing incredibly intimate. As the reader you were right there listening to Eve's thoughts and feelings. She was so exposed and that made her seem incredibly real. At one point she claims “I feel like I'm having the world's slowest nervous breakdown”. Statements like this really helped you understand exactly how she was feeling in a particular situation and really made you stop and think.
The story itself was interesting and engaging. The characters are all very detailed and lively. Some of them will definitely surprise you. Whittal's writing is frank but creative. It doesn't hold back. In addition to Eve's internal struggle, there is also a great deal of social commentary. The novel places gay/lesbian rights alongside the Yes/No vote for Quebec independence. This was a time of conflict and confusion for many people in Canada. A time when identity was a crucial issue and for many people it still is. French Canadian and gay/lesbian identity, are both under represented in Canadian literature, it is nice to finally read something that gives them a voice.
This novel moved me. If I ever get the chance to meet Zoe Whittal I want to thank her for it. (I may hug her if she let me.) The intimate and honest writing really spoke to me. There were a lot of issues and problems Eve came across that I could relate to. I think there are a lot of people out there who could find a sense of comfort and unity in Bottle Rocket Hearts. For Canadians, for gays, lesbians and other members of the community, for young people trying to become adults, for anyone who has ever struggled with finding their own identity within a larger society – this book is for all of us.
lesbrary's review against another edition
3.0
This is really good, but I just don't think I can read books about toxic relationships & self destructive tendencies anymore. I like the women's studies/SJ politics angle--it felt very true to my experiences. The parts that I didn't like were just that they were done so well. They hit too close to home.
jestintzi's review against another edition
4.0
A book that seems a bit too relevant to be coincidentally reading right now, with the Brexit referendum (while this is set around Quebec's in 96) as well as homophobic violence. Though all of that is the world rather than the point of this book, which has gorgeous and heart wrenching prose, and a neatly circular structure that was pretty satisfying. There were a few minor points where things felt a touch off key, but nevertheless a great book. Hit home like a battering ram.
niloos'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
babyfacedoldsoul's review against another edition
4.0
A fun little queer slice of life. Could have used another edit for grammar, but a nice Sunday afternoon read.