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sierra_smith_418's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Incest, Suicide attempt, Murder, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Suicide, Homophobia, and Drug abuse
mackennac'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
3.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Murder, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Incest, Homophobia, Drug abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Drug use, and Gun violence
random19379's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gore, Murder, Grief, and Homophobia
Moderate: Incest, Racial slurs, Violence, Xenophobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Stalking, Ableism, Antisemitism, Racism, Alcohol, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, and Fatphobia
Minor: Rape and Religious bigotry
dryriver's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
What I liked: Tartt does an excellent job at character building, creating complex characters which are lovable and despicable, and crafting the atmosphere of a scenario. To be honest, I love the writing -- it verges on gothic romance with a dark focus on environmental qualities and emotional turmoil.
What I didn't like: Was there any plot? While the writing was excellent, the majority of the book focuses on someone being drunk or doing drugs, someone being pissed at someone else, someone trying to get drunk or do drugs or cause tension..... and it drags. Had this book been 300 (or fewer) pages, I probably would have rated it higher. Maybe it's the superiority complex, immense wealth, ignorance, and privilege held by most characters, but I could not get myself to care much about their emotional turmoil as it was self-imposed.
By the last half of the book, I genuinely hated the majority of the characters and only continued because I hate not finishing a book even more. It was also dotted with racism, homophobia, and incest, all of which seemed like unnecessary shock factors.
I am glad others liked this book more than I did, but for what reason, I'm not entirely sure. Though I think Tartt is a great writer, I can't say I enjoyed this read.
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Incest, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Domestic abuse
massivepizzacrust's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I can see why this is a classic, but I think the writing is the only reason I would recommend it.
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, and Addiction
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Sexism, Racism, and Xenophobia
gainsandbrains'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Suicide, Self harm, Racial slurs, Murder, Antisemitism, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, and Islamophobia
bleepbloop's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Classism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Dementia, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual violence, Islamophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Domestic abuse
dakotajade's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Suicide, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Racism
issyd23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Really disappointed this book didn’t live up to the hype: pacing was way too slow - like just get to the murder already.
Tbh PLL did it better and the play/Hitchcock film Rope is a way better version of this story in terms of suspense, pacing and exploring themes of ethics, academia, eruditeness, class and queerness.
NB the audiobook I listed to narrated by the author herself gave the most annoying voice to Bunny: he sounded like that little bitch in the Polar Express and so I wasn’t even sad when he was killed.
Also I found the main 6 characters so detestable I was indifferent to their
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Murder, Incest, Classism, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, and Racism
soots'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? Yes
1.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Incest, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Rape