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blairsatellite's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
brendap's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
aewinec's review against another edition
Gave it about 40 pages to draw me in, and it didn't. I'll try it again another time.
sailorfuj's review against another edition
1.0
I would give it 0 stars but given the amount of research the author did to write the historical setting accurately deserves praise.
Seemed like every male character got a few sentences dedicated to his penis. Dead guy? HUGE penis, even the coroner was shocked at the size (because the coroner's penis is smaller). Main character? Masturbates twice a month because he is pathetic. Defense attorney? He's getting old so his doesn't work so well, can't keep an erection (but woo boy if he could keep one he'd get one looking at the dead guy's wife).
Awful.
Seemed like every male character got a few sentences dedicated to his penis. Dead guy? HUGE penis, even the coroner was shocked at the size (because the coroner's penis is smaller). Main character? Masturbates twice a month because he is pathetic. Defense attorney? He's getting old so his doesn't work so well, can't keep an erection (but woo boy if he could keep one he'd get one looking at the dead guy's wife).
Awful.
tarafoor's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes just rereading a book is the way to go. I initially read this book in my high school AP Lit class and this second go around just reaffirmed everything that I loved about it. The murder mystery/historical drama/tragic romance all portray deep philosophies of fairness, justice and civility that makes the reader question our own prejudices, and it’s all backed against a beautifully portrayed backdrop of Puget Sound that makes me long to go there. It’s forever on my shelf as one of my favorites.
baffi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sylviacostello's review against another edition
2.0
I found this book very slow and boring. I could feel the story building but it did not seem to go anywhere.
anthofer's review against another edition
4.0
Superb trial thriller that moves along quickly without a postmodern trick up its sleeve at all. I suspect this book would be more relevant and interesting (and far less patronizing) for a typical white high school student than "To Kill A Mockingbird." The incarceration of Japanese-Americans is a more relevant topic to many of them than a victory story about segregation, and the descriptions of the childhood memories of two of the main characters clearly evoke the damp and isolation of the island. It's a little dangerous for Guterson to write from the close third-person with many of the novel's Japanese characters, but they don't feel like caricatures because it's obvious how much care Guterson put into researching similar stories throughout the Northwest. At times the trial jargon and dialogue feels a bit stagey, but it's a small quibble and I'd recommend this to anyone.
ellipsis914's review against another edition
4.0
Funny story: I have five Goodreads friends who rated this book, and each of them gave it a different score (one person gave it one star, another gave it two, another three, and so on). So I guess you either love this book or you hate it. Unless you're neutral. I loved it. It was beautifully written (ok, so sometimes it was overwrought-- How many times do you need to use the word "implacable" D.G.?), the historical context was fascinating and well-researched, and at the end of the day it was just a gripping murder mystery. What more do you want out of a book?
bmhbiattiwoeytba's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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