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phantomgecko's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I didn't really care for the people and what they were doing, but I enjoyed the circles and knots that wove them all together. Like, wow, all these terrible people really couldn't have done it by themselves. I need a bulletin board covered in pins and string to illustrate how wildly connected these stories all are. Especially the ones that seem out of place, like where the PR lady does business with a war criminal.
Again, not just short stories. Though some of the chapters could be interesting stand-alones, the effect of all of them together is just top notch.
Also, the peeking into the future was fascinating. A new baby boom. The devolution of language. Wild stuff.
So, in conclusion, I really really liked this book's structure and premise and details and styles. But I didn't care about the characters and what they did nor about the music/punk/art/drug scene prominent in most of the characters' lives.
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Genocide, Mental illness, Racism, and Toxic relationship
si0ban's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Moderate: Drug use, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Death
Minor: Suicide attempt
gwendle_vs_literature's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is an excellent book. It reads more like a collection of short stories, with each chapter focused on a different character, but the way they all weave together and connect in the end is really impressive and beautiful, and by the time I’d finished it I understood why it’s billed as a novel.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, and Drug use
Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Infidelity, and Terminal illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, and Vomit
One chapter/story was difficult to read because it describes an attempted sexual assault from the perspective of the person who had committed it, so be careful of that if it might be triggering for you — chapter 9. There are other mentions of that event, as well as sketchy situations with sexual relationships between adults and minors, but chapter 9 is the one that’s overtly violent.confusedmuse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Addiction
falchionm's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts
I heard this was a book about time travel, but it was not in the way I thought. It isn't science fiction, but the reader travels through vignettes of a connected cast of characters through different points in their lives and how they intersect with each other. It has character studies and each has their unique struggles and secrets in their lives.