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jacula's review against another edition
2.0
I should have liked this book. I wanted to like this book but it fell short for me. I feel like it was trying to hard to be quirky and 'feel-good'. It featured fantastical creatures in a drab world in order to teach a message - but it didn't feel like a fantasy to me.
I was occasionally intrigued but mostly bored. Relationships developed without really developing at all and as much as I was being told to like the characters and their quirks - I didn't.
I was occasionally intrigued but mostly bored. Relationships developed without really developing at all and as much as I was being told to like the characters and their quirks - I didn't.
e_goo's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
kiranmm's review against another edition
5.0
just the sweetest most heartwarming read ever. absolutely loved it. def a new favourite comfort read
mbookishbanter's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
4.5
grace_lynn08's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
inharket's review against another edition
5.0
I don't often give five stars, and I even more rarely write reviews. But I did love this book - not only did it treat the children sensitively - their background was explored in a way that was not aiming for shock value and written in a way that I feel the author may have actually cared to look into how people respond to trauma. This in itself is rare in a world where media seems to exploit the pain of children as a matter of fact in storytelling.
On top of that, the representation of two adult gay men was lovely. They were regular people you might want to meet - they weren't pornified, they weren't obviously handsome or attractive or written in any way except human and it was an actual delight to read a book with an imperfect protagionist, just living. I love this!
On top of that, the representation of two adult gay men was lovely. They were regular people you might want to meet - they weren't pornified, they weren't obviously handsome or attractive or written in any way except human and it was an actual delight to read a book with an imperfect protagionist, just living. I love this!
wadingo's review against another edition
DNF.
Trying too hard to be cutesy and funny. The author’s voice in this book was way too cheesy for me to enjoy.
Trying too hard to be cutesy and funny. The author’s voice in this book was way too cheesy for me to enjoy.
okokapi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
meyrathedreamer's review against another edition
3.0
I think I have a love-hate relationship with these kinds of books where every other sentence is somehow criticism or life lesson of a sort but that does not mean I did not enjoy this book. It was good but I prefer subtlety, you don't have to throw the ideas on my face, I love it more when I catch the ideas in between lines because... that's what makes it worth reading.
But still, It was one of the stories that made you feel warm, made you feel you can find your home anywhere, anytime and I don't know why it took me ten days to finish this, honestly, I finished the second half in one sitting because... The characters... they were so unique and special and I loved every one of them.
I absolutely adored Lucy, he was so creative with his threats like really and his relationship with Linus was so perfect. Every children's relationships with Linus were like that actually, I loved how Sal became eventually open to him and how Talia threatened him to burry in the disguise of saying hey, I actually like you.
And towards to end, I felt they became a whole, strange family who is not afraid of facing hardships as long as they have each other. They were perfect.
And because quotes were absolutely perfect, here are some of my favorites.
"Humanity is so weird. If we’re not laughing, we’re crying or running for our lives because monsters are trying to eat us. And they don’t even have to be real monsters. They could be the ones we make up in our heads. Don’t you think that’s weird?”
“He’s so wonderful and generous,” Lucy said, spinning in a circle on the sidewalk, arms outstretched for reasons Linus didn’t understand. “And I hope he remembers to do the same for me, so I don’t have to spend my own money and feel left out and have to open a pit to hell and watch this village be swallowed whole. Because that would just be so easy.”
"We are who we are not because of our birthright, but because of what we choose to do in this life."
But still, It was one of the stories that made you feel warm, made you feel you can find your home anywhere, anytime and I don't know why it took me ten days to finish this, honestly, I finished the second half in one sitting because... The characters... they were so unique and special and I loved every one of them.
I absolutely adored Lucy, he was so creative with his threats like really and his relationship with Linus was so perfect. Every children's relationships with Linus were like that actually, I loved how Sal became eventually open to him and how Talia threatened him to burry in the disguise of saying hey, I actually like you.
And towards to end, I felt they became a whole, strange family who is not afraid of facing hardships as long as they have each other. They were perfect.
And because quotes were absolutely perfect, here are some of my favorites.
"Humanity is so weird. If we’re not laughing, we’re crying or running for our lives because monsters are trying to eat us. And they don’t even have to be real monsters. They could be the ones we make up in our heads. Don’t you think that’s weird?”
“He’s so wonderful and generous,” Lucy said, spinning in a circle on the sidewalk, arms outstretched for reasons Linus didn’t understand. “And I hope he remembers to do the same for me, so I don’t have to spend my own money and feel left out and have to open a pit to hell and watch this village be swallowed whole. Because that would just be so easy.”
"We are who we are not because of our birthright, but because of what we choose to do in this life."