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introverted_reads's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Grief, Cursing, Death, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Suicide, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Colonisation, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War
theespressoedition's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Now, maybe it was just the high of The Midnight Library and The Comfort Book, specifically, but I was really itching for something profound and inspiring to me, personally. That's not so much what I found in this book.
For the most part, this was historical fiction, with elements of magical realism thrown in there and a few nods to the modern era. I don't resonate well with historical fiction, so I think that's the first thing that kind of put me off. The concept of a person who ages at a snail's pace fascinated me, but I wasn't expecting to spend so much time getting to know Shakespeare... and that's kind of what happened.
Not that there's anything wrong with this in the slightest, it just didn't stand out to me. The meaningful aspects of the book were towards the last couple of chapters. Those, I could've highlighted in full, because they were so profound. However, I had hoped for a lot more of that throughout the book, so it was just a bit of a bummer.
However, I would read this book again! That might sound strange, but it's true. I do feel like there was a lot to learn from it, but I probably missed certain things because I got distracted while listening to the audiobook (which had a lovely narrator whose accent I adored, even if I wasn't obsessed with his performance). I'd like to read the updated edition that came out in 2022 as a physical copy to see what else I could gain!
As a whole, it was an interesting book, just not one that I would find myself recommending endlessly as I have with Matt's other books.
Graphic: Death and Misogyny
Moderate: Physical abuse and Violence
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicidal thoughts
silver_valkyrie_reads'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
4.0
This book has no graphic content, but it does have a smattering of veiled references to physical intimacy, and quite a bit of emotional tension and death, including in the name of witch hunting, and some passing references to depression/PPD and suicidal thoughts. There are also a few annoying side comments, like when he intentionally uses odd wording in order imply that a baby in the womb is not actually human yet. Not recommended for very young readers, but some teen readers might enjoy it.
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content, Child death, and Suicidal thoughts
skyegbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, and Terminal illness
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
pippamillerxoxo_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Child death, and Murder
cwinckel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Death, and Suicide
marie_is_reading's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment, Death, War, and Suicidal thoughts
satsukiq's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Violence, and War
vikidoki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual assault and Violence
jude7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Gun violence, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Homophobia