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madelinequinne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, and Child abuse
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Suicidal thoughts
sydapel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
If you're looking for an really profound philosophical debate about faith, forgiveness, guilt, anger and difficult choices that women living in deeply patriarchal societies face, this excels. It's hard to digest, especially knowing it's based on reality, so please do check trigger warnings.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Rape, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Miscarriage
Minor: Excrement and Blood
linguaphile412'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Misogyny
Minor: Incest, Vomit, and Pregnancy
lauowens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Sexual assault
ismerene's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
I think the biggest misstep in this novel that cascaded into other issues is the method of which the story is told. No speech is direct. Everything, save for our narrator, is spoken in passive statements, and it serves to deaden a lot of emotion about the situation at hand, as well as removing a large bit of personality from each character. There were a few moments of creepy, chill-up-your-spine implications and sudden, graphic depictions - all of which had heavier impact due to the otherwise banal narration - but overall it only served to turn much of the story into a slog.
The narrator's gender didn't bother me as much as his long-winded inserts did. Separate from him explaining certain cultural nuances, the insert of his background or his encounters outside the meeting felt frustrating. What really chapped my hide however were the comments and odes about one character he pines for. In the context of what this novel is centered on, it comes across as almost... creepy. It's all soft and emotional, but like, she's pregnant because she was raped. I'm not sure if this is to grow the narrator's character, or to illustrate a statement on men overall, but either way it was, also, annoying.
Based on other reviews, it seems as if the choices made here were stylistic, in which case I can confidently say the style is not for me. I think if this had been handled a bit differently, and maybe some choices - in narrator, particularly - were changed, this would be rated much higher. As it stands however, I didn't much care for it.
Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Incest
izgetsbetter'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
3.0
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual assault
evanlyn'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Rape, Pregnancy, Violence, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, and Pedophilia
bookforthought'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: Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
thehistoriette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Incest, Rape, and Religious bigotry
sgrizzle's review against another edition
3.75
(As an aside, I read an interview with the author where she said she wanted to base a story on the real situation, but also she didn’t want it to be about the violence itself, since so many stories are about violence, but about coping with the aftermath. I really appreciate that take.)
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault