542 reviews for:

The World Cannot Give

Tara Isabella Burton

3.57 AVERAGE

beastlybrooke's review against another edition

3.25

challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment

Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury

isabelrstev's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense

lcosullivan's review against another edition

3.5

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

owltreat's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

gellyreads's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I'm really struggling to determine how much I enjoy this book. I found the pacing to be slow, and I found it to almost be allegorical - although I'm unsure what the metaphors are in this allegory. This was an excellent way to view terrible people through a bland lens, and I do appreciate the author making people examine what you consider to be dangerous and what people would see as a form of love and trust. This is an unforgettable book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Classism

Moderate: Stalking, Alcohol

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship

monalyisha's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Loveable characters: No

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Burton expertly creates atmosphere and tone in this tense novel, set in a co-ed, seaside, Catholic boarding school in New England. There’s desperation, longing, and cruelty in spades. It’s clear how easy it is to be swept up in a cult AND in young love, and how dangerous it is when power is so unequally distributed in each case. I’ll read more by this author; I’m almost more interested in her bio at the back than I am in her narrative! A doctorate in theology? A nonfic text called “Strange Rites”? Yes, please!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse

andrewbop's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Eating disorder

Minor: Religious bigotry, Alcohol, War

vmaria97's review against another edition

3.0

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Murder

Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol

Minor: Confinement, War

txri's review

2.0

dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes