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migalu23's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, and Self harm
Moderate: Colonisation, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, and Death
whatzoreads's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
ghostycell's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
Moderate: Hate crime, Racism, and Grief
scattie_t's review
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Death of parent, and Suicide
liz_not_bennet's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
* * *
Love at first paragraph is what I should file this book (and only a handfull of other books) under.
I am amazed with the author's skill to address multiple complex issues (dysfunctional family, female bonding and empowerment, misogyny, cult development, trauma, propaganda, racism, ageism) while still forming a cohesive story without wasting a single word. I was captivated from the first paragraph to the last and I regret finishing the book so quickly but I could barely force myself to take breaks to cook food or go to sleep.
I was moved to tears, angry, scared and most of all contemplative. I can't remember the last time a book gave me such conflicting feelings.
This book will for sure be due for a reread in a few years because it'll be just as (or even more) relatable as it is now.
Graphic: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Suicide
sophsg88's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Genocide and Deportation
dannilmp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I truly feel the audiobook is truly the best way to experience this novel. Not only does it mean I didn't have to worry about mispronouncing French or Swahili or place names around the world, I also felt it allowed me to have a better experience with reading. Considering this novel is written as a non-fiction biography written in another fictional instance of our planet, as I was listening it felt like Emilia was speaking her thoughts aloud to me while drafting this biography of Rachel Morris. The ending comments about the prospects of what her world could have been without her mother's influence certainly got me thinking about the current state of our own world too. Certainly a book that has left an imprint on me.
The only thing I really disliked about this book was such comments as 'you know what I'm talking about' or 'as you've seen it everywhere' as obviously I did not know what events or things Emilia was referring to! However this style of writing certainly fit the idea of a biography written in Emilia's universe so I was able to get over my annoance and let it slide.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a feminist book set in our own little planet Earth. Certain events in the book leave you pondering the state of Emilia's world while other comments leave you thinking about our own world. I think the experience of this book will be on my mind for a while yet.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, and Death
Moderate: Child death and Violence
Minor: Rape
makikooni's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
Minor: Violence, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Rape