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jiwiz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
I really love stories that explore what would have happened alternatively if different choices were made, or if a certain event didn't occur. I know I'm always giving out 5 stars but I enjoyed this so I don't care. It was really easy to forget that all the events in this book were what-ifs. I like that their lives were unexpected but hopeful but realistic, and even in the end the lives of the people they knew and loved still carried on. They would be close to someone at one time and then in the next 15-year interval that person was just a passing mention with no explanation as to how they fell apart. It tripped me up as a reader but I guess that's how it is when you pull these fragments from a life. Also, the representation of intrusive thoughts was one of the most accurate I've ever seen and hit so close to home.
Graphic: Mental illness, Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Antisemitism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Hate crime
Moderate: Ableism and Eating disorder
Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual content
lydia123's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A very good book! The style in incredibly minute and poetic which can get frustrating but ultimately really works for the subject matter. I wish the author had done all of the protagonists viewpoints in 1949 as it feels like we don’t properly get an idea who they are until 1964 but oh well!
Read if you feel stuck in life or really like the television programme : Seven Up.
Read if you feel stuck in life or really like the television programme : Seven Up.
Graphic: Classism, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Murder, Violence, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, and Racism
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