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nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
this book is about characters: larger than life, representing ideals or the worst of us, somehow co-existing. the second half of the book’s momentum belongs with the plot, but its purpose is to share the human condition. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
linde_euw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism and Antisemitism
Minor: Racism, Antisemitism, and Death of parent
greenan26'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Excrement, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol
djbobthegirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
burnourhistory's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
natesalsbury'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
At points, there was too much detail. Introducing a new character required multiple paragraphs (or even pages) of backstory- and there were A LOT of characters. I could not keep track of all of the characters, several with primarily used nicknames; however, on occasion a real name was used and I forgot who that character was and had to go back for context clues. There were also so many points-of-view which made it hard to keep up with. I wasn't sure who the main character was supposed to be, if any.
The plot seemed very convoluted. I wasn't sure why any of these characters specific stories were told until the very end when it was explicitly laid out "This character did this, which meant this character could do this and, as a result, this happened." So it did tie together in the end, but took so long to get there.
This story primarily took place in the late 1920s with the first and last chapters taking place in 1972. At least twice - in random spots - modern day 2000s events were mentioned, specifically referring to school shootings despite almost no gun violence in the book, so I wasn't entirely sure why it was mentioned at all.
Content Warning: Explicit SA.
Overall, I am glad I read this, but would not jump at the opportunity to read it again. Maybe somewhere down the road I will read it with a different perspective (and knowing what's going to happen) and find a way to appreciate it more, but that day will not come anytime soon.
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail
aggie2010's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
clarkg'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
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Slavery, and Alcohol
lexcellent's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Pedophilia
isaarusilor'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail