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gingervandorsten's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I've seen some people comment on the fact that very little actually happens in the story, and the narrative style and language of it cover this up, which was a bit of a turn-off for me. I get this, but personally this was actually one of my favourite parts about the book - the way that O'Farrell was able to pick out such exquisite detail in everything that you don't realise until you take a step back that not very much has actually happened.
This book was so lush and it's going to take me. a while. to recover. Really recommend this.
Graphic: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Child death, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Domestic abuse
grboph's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Grief, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Gore, Infidelity, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Abandonment
harrimyers'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic
benegesserwitch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Pregnancy, Death, Terminal illness, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Body horror and Child abuse
szuum'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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Pregnancy, Grief, Misogyny, and Child death
Moderate: Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Infidelity
georginathelibrarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
To hear her talk about a child that I hadn’t even known existed, despite studying Agnes’s husband at university, a child who may have died of a deadly epidemic, during that time of my own life secluded from our own deadly sickness captured my attention.
I immediately ordered a signed copy, and then it sat on the shelf as they often do, biding their time until the moment is right.
Finally the time had come to read it, prompted by my book club, and I am so glad I have. It was chosen for April as that is the month of Agnes’ husband’s birth and death, but the story is not just about that famous playwright, it is more about his family, and their grief at the loss of one of their own.
This story captured my attention anew, transporting me to Elizabethan Stratford, and had me riveted from start to finish, a feat that many books have failed to deliver of late.
I warn you, you will need tissues, this is not a happy story, but it is one that leaves a feeling of wholeness at the end, that all is as it should be.
In the words of Agnes’s husband “give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o’er wrought heart and bids it break”.
Graphic: Grief and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, Death, and Miscarriage
Minor: Sexual content, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Pandemic/Epidemic
antoniac's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Pregnancy, Grief, and Child death
Moderate: Death of parent and Child abuse
foggyoblio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Death, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Pregnancy, Medical content, and Infidelity
emerentina'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Death, Child death, Child abuse, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Infidelity
lindcherry'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Child death, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy and Infidelity