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bootsmom3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Death, Genocide, Medical content, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, War, Addiction, Alcohol, Misogyny, Cursing, Violence, Gore, and Abortion
Minor: Death of parent
sarahflanders's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, War, Alcoholism, Abortion, Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, Death, Medical content, Murder, Suicide, and Pregnancy
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Author: Kate Quinn
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.0
Pub Date: June 6th 2017
T H R E E • W O R D S
Lengthy • Mysterious • Illuminating
📖 S Y N O P S I S
The Alice Network is a multi-layered narrative of two women - Eve, a female spy recruited to the Alice Network in France during World War I, and Charlie, an American college student searching for her cousin Rose in 1947. A story of truth and redemption, of sacrifice and courage, of self-discovery and friendship, this is a very powerful novel.
💭 T H O U G H T S
When I saw this book announced as the @bookhoardersbookclub January 2021 pick, I immediately knew it was the push I needed to FINALLY pick it up. While I was instantly captivated by the alternating storylines and phenomenal character development, the sheer length of this novel was what knocked it down a notch. I completely understand a slow pace was needed to unravel the complexity of the storylines, but for me it dragged out a little too much. As with all historical fiction, I enjoyed learning about a different role of women during WWI, in this case a female spy network, and enjoyed how the narrative shone a light on PTSD, and incorporated disability into the narrative. I also loved how the relationship between Eve and Charlie transformed from start to finish, where by the end they have more in common with each other than they think. For me, the author's note at the end plays an important role here bringing the story into context, divulging what was real from creative fiction. Overall, a worthwhile read for those who enjoy a good dual-timeline, plot driven, and engaging story featuring a touch of mystery and strong women. This definitely makes a wonderful book club selection as well.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Historical fiction fans (particularly WWI & WWII)
• readers who enjoyed The Book of Lost Names
• Book clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Hope was such a painful thing, far more painful than rage."
"'There are two kinds of flowers when it comes to women,' Eve said. 'The kind that sit safe in a beautiful vase, or the kind that survive in any conditions... even in evil. Lili was the latter. Which are you?'"
Graphic: Abortion, Physical abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Grief, and Gun violence
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual content, and Suicide
death of a sibling, PTSD