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artmuseam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Chronic illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Child death
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Infidelity
savmthompson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse
gazingonthemasqueofsnow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
That being said, I loved to see Agnes' POV of the story and her evolution during the novel. It was an interesting choice to imagine her life and the one of her family this way.
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Child abuse
janake's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Minor: Child abuse
lucylibrarymouse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse
sarabookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Furthermore, I liked how the first part of the book is organized in chapters and how it continuously switches from past to present; while the second part is very unstructured and blurred reflecting how the lives of the characters have also become unstructured and undefined in time as they deal with grief and tragedy.
I also appreciated how the author portrayed the different ways that the characters deal with grief. For example avoidance from the father, despair and helplessness from the mother, anger from the older sister, denial from the younger sister, etc.
One interesting aspect is the fact that William Shakespeare is never named, and the references to him are always in relation to other people (the father, the brother, the oldest son, the Latin tutor, etc) which can be a bit annoying at times since all other characters have names (besides the baker's wife). But I understand that this was a purposeful artistic choice, perhaps to not take away from the other characters and make it solely Shakespeare's story.
The ending was a bit rushed for my liking and I expected a bit more from it, but overall, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.
Graphic: Terminal illness and Child death
Moderate: Grief and Child abuse
levitatingnumeral's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The writing style is GORGEOUS, the story is heart-rending and O’Farrell captures both joy and grief in such a magical, complex and vivid way.
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Child abuse and Alcoholism
meremeth'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? No
3.0
The book spoils what will happen from the start (which, not denying that's a good choice because everyone knows what happens to Hamlet). This kind of made the middle of the book drag a little for me because you're just waiting for it to happen. Loved the writing style, loved the character of Agnes, but did struggle to get through the middle. Lots of baby content.
Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, and Child abuse
Moderate: Medical content
nicolemhill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Child death and Child abuse
lauraportalupi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Child death, Child abuse, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and Animal death