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redheadreading's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
I enjoyed getting an insight into the Maltese community in Cardiff in the 60s. This is a very sad and bleak story, but I confess to feeling a bit of distance from the narrative. Perhaps because our narrator exists at a bit of a distance from everything? Very early on she gets badly burned as a child and as such is kept inside a lot, so there's a slightly odd perspective where we are ostensibly seeing through the eyes of a young child, except the narration style is quite mature and is often presenting events that the character herself was not present for. That said, I did find myself compelled to know what would happen, but I definitely preferred the first part which focused on the family in the 60s rather than part two which was set much later.
shariwatson's review
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
banrions's review
3.0
I wanted to like this more than I did. I think my main problem with the story is I often had no idea what was going on. After finishing it, I'm still confused on a lot of the plot points and I think it has mostly to do with the way the author decided to style the writing. I don't really love novels without punctuation, I'm not opposed to them, and I can certainly grasp dialogue when I read it, but......I don't know, I just found myself too often confused, having to re-read to make sure I knew what was happening and it took me out of the story too much. I still enjoyed the overall novel about the family, but I think the novel had the potential to be so much better.
carolinejhm's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
sageyywageyy's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
barbarabarbara's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
rachelp's review
4.0
I was torn between giving this book three or four stars. I guess I would give it a 3.5, if that was an option. The story was told by Dolores, the youngest of six sisters. Her family is a Maltese family living in Wales. Her father is a chronic gambler and her mother is just trying to hold everything together. Dolores is replaying her family's story and trying to fill in the gaps.
internationalreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Vomit, Cursing, Death, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Physical abuse