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ptaradactyl's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
2.5
If the flaws of the main characters are a focus of the book, so are their strengths. There a lot of feelings, and it’s sadder and darker than I remembered. But also joyous.
I do like that it dealt with death and quality of life
I do like that it dealt with death and quality of life
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry
ashtheaudiomancer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this because it's creeping up on Easter and it's a family tradition to rewatch the film adaptation every year. There are several differences between the book and the movie, including a lot of events that take place either in a different order or were cobbled together into one scene in the movie where they were two separate events in the novel, and of course some characters were left out. Others were added in who weren't in the book, which I did not expect, but honestly most of the characters were perfectly cast.
I'm not sure what else to say without getting into spoilers. The ending is VERY different in the book, and I don't often say this, but I preferred the ending in the movie. I can see why the ending as written wouldn't have played well with test audiences. I don't know if that's what happened, but I found the ending abrupt and unsatisfying, as if the author couldn't quite decide where to go next. I don't always have a problem with ambiguous endings, but it felt out of place here.
Otherwise, this was thoroughly delightful, and--apart from the ending--I feel like if you're a fan of the movie, you will definitely enjoy this book.
I'm not sure what else to say without getting into spoilers. The ending is VERY different in the book, and I don't often say this, but I preferred the ending in the movie. I can see why the ending as written wouldn't have played well with test audiences. I don't know if that's what happened, but I found the ending abrupt and unsatisfying, as if the author couldn't quite decide where to go next. I don't always have a problem with ambiguous endings, but it felt out of place here.
Otherwise, this was thoroughly delightful, and--apart from the ending--I feel like if you're a fan of the movie, you will definitely enjoy this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Racism, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death
All the graphic-to-moderate details mentioned are major themes, and also included in the film adaptation, so if you've seen the movie that's a good indicator for what to expect. The one animal death is NOT included in the movie, and it's of an old and deeply loved pet dying of natural causes, and happens off-page.thingslucyreads's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Very very different from the movie, though the core characters and events are the same. A rare occasion where both pieces of work stand together, complimenting each other without being diminished by their differences. Ultimately I think I prefer the film, if only because I really enjoyed the Reynaud/Caroline romance, which is wholly absent from the novel, and I liked Caroline’s characterisation in the film better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, and Violence
Minor: Suicide
Use of the g-slur for travelling people, racist sentiments and stereotypes about them expressed during Reynaud’s POV chapters and encouraged among the other residents by him. I’ve tagged for suicide also but it’s less that and more voluntary, self-inflicted euthanasia. This character has an illness that she purposely ignores in favour of enjoying the last years of her life - I do not share this illness so can’t say if it’s a negative or positive portrayal.belfrybatz's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.5
This book was beautiful, as I have come to expect from Joanne Harris. It had everything I loved about Five Quarters of The Orange; incredible, rich descriptions with gorgeous metaphors throughout that gradually pull--and then drag you in. Her focus, like in Five Quarters, on describing food in the most luscious manner possible is the thread that weaves everything together; illustrating how important sharing meals and culture with each other bring even the most fractured communities together. This is a short read, but worth it. The main character is not without flaws, and her development through the book of being able to finally separate herself from the paranoid influence her mother had on her helped to flesh her out as truly human and capable of growth past the end of the novel, not just a simple hero. The stories from each of the diverse cast of characters are emotional and reflective, but don't take you on too long of a journey away from the plot. Really enjoyed this! (Though Five Quarters is still my favorite :) ). I will warn about the continuous use of the word "gyp*y" to describe the Roma(I'm assuming) transients/travelers in the book, and the hate that is thrown towards them from some of the characters/antagonists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
There's quite graphic descriptions of arson.
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