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montyalmoro's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Outing
owenwilsonbaby's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I loved this! It was sad and brutal but not without beauty. I think it avoided a lot of sentimentality in romance by focusing on the physical and the unglamorous, and then working hard to draw out the tenderness within that realism. The imagery and lyricism made this a beautiful, if slightly dense, novel.
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Self harm, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Abandonment, Abortion, Alcohol, Sexism, Sexual violence, Addiction, Animal death, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Blood, Bullying, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
flashandoutbreak'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Rape, Abortion, Alcohol, Animal death, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Outing, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy
georgiaelizabethg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Pedophilia, Homophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Sexual violence
literarylion's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
- Really well-constructed and perfectly paced
- Every character was so vivid and engaging
- Just a lovely story beautifully written
Cons:
- Could be a bit melodramatic at times
- Injury descriptions were so intense as to be unbelievable in some cases
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Gore, Grief, Violence, Homophobia, and Abortion
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Cursing, Drug use, Outing, and Hate crime
Minor: Classism, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
alterego's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Abandonment, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Pregnancy, Outing, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Abortion
marijne's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Outing, Pedophilia, Blood, Classism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence
rzh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love Glasgow, and this is obviously written by someone who loves it just as I do: the descriptions of all the streets, all the people...just mesmerising, makes me want to tear up. Every single character has a story, a reason for their ways, a mammy at home... and it never feels overbearing, or too much background. The way it deals with class and sectarianism and alcoholism and toxic masculinity is heartbreaking and red raw. I've seen some people say that this is just a rehashing of Shuggie Bain, and though I can certainly see that, I read another book by Douglas Stuart because I loved Shuggie Bain, and everything it was about. This was different, but not too different where I felt like it was off piste. The non-linear structure built together into a crescendo absolutely beautifully, the prose was so stunning, its about my favourite place in the world for all its flaws... it was just heartbreaking, and magical, and that's everything I loved about Shuggie Bain, and loved all the more here. Jist perfect. <3
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Rape, Homophobia, Violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Classism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Outing, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Vomit, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Abortion and Suicide attempt
alisonannk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Murder, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Outing, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Violence, Vomit, Excrement, and Torture
Moderate: Gore, Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, and Terminal illness
Minor: Fatphobia
marioncromb'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Homophobia, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Outing, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Abortion, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Violence