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4.68 AVERAGE
4.68 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Minor: Homophobia
John Boyne is one of my favorite authors, and he just keeps getting better and better. The Elements is everything I want in a book - it's a page-turner with fascinating characters, meaty with plenty to think about, and crafted so skillfully that I don't know how he manages to do it. In short, read it! The book tells four intertwined stories represented by the four elements and each relates to healing from unthinkable experiences. It's a wonderful book - I highly recommend!
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
medium-paced
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book was a full circle masterpiece for me. It is four novellas in one Water, Earth, Fire and Air. It starts on an island, a woman reinvents herself to escape gossip following the arrest of her husband. The next piece follows the dark story of a young man who escapes the island and the controversy he faces. Then we glimpse a juror, who is also a burn doctor, her psychological damage both endured and committed. The final story ends with the doctor’s resident and his piece of the puzzle. Which all comes together beautifully. I wrote out the characters to visualize the connections and fully understand and appreciate the depth of the interwoven stories.
The stories can be hard to read as they each have elements of sexual abuse and victimization. It is heavy but also, in my opinion, accurately depicts how humans are impacted by abuse, the decisions they may make, how abuse is sometimes generational. A well written example of the ripple effect of sexual abuse.
Another incredible book by John Boyne.
This book was a full circle masterpiece for me. It is four novellas in one Water, Earth, Fire and Air. It starts on an island, a woman reinvents herself to escape gossip following the arrest of her husband. The next piece follows the dark story of a young man who escapes the island and the controversy he faces. Then we glimpse a juror, who is also a burn doctor, her psychological damage both endured and committed. The final story ends with the doctor’s resident and his piece of the puzzle. Which all comes together beautifully. I wrote out the characters to visualize the connections and fully understand and appreciate the depth of the interwoven stories.
The stories can be hard to read as they each have elements of sexual abuse and victimization. It is heavy but also, in my opinion, accurately depicts how humans are impacted by abuse, the decisions they may make, how abuse is sometimes generational. A well written example of the ripple effect of sexual abuse.
Another incredible book by John Boyne.