Reviews

The Magpie Wing by Max Easton

tildahlia's review

2.0

I wanted to like this book and felt it had a strong start in describing the family dynamics between the characters, particularly the relationships between the children and their parents. As someone who grew up in Western Sydney, I also enjoyed the descriptions of place which were evocative and familiar to me. But, as the book progressed the threads of the story became unmoored and frankly, boring. Some of the actions/dialogue of some of the characters felt fanciful in parts and ultimately cringe (ie the constant chip on the shoulder re Western Sydney of one of the characters just felt...totally unrealistic?!) I found myself eye-rolling in response to sections that felt undergrad writing quality at best.

mattybax's review

A hard read…
Downright depressing for the sake of it without any rationale or justification through character development 

mostlyshanti's review

challenging emotional tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No

3.75

rugby league... I'm an expert now

kaymunckton's review

dark funny reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

perfectsham's review

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I quite like books like this where nothing really happens, it's just a meandering exploration of the characters over time. The only problem with this book was it just ended almost mid sentence with zero attempt to tie anything up or give the characters any kind of resolution. It just...finished. So enjoyable read but docked points for the (non) ending.

mim_dot_epub's review

hopeful reflective medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0

bestknownfor's review

emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use

Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, and Alcoholism

Minor: Abortion

talbet's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

4.0

curatoriallyyours's review

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I didn’t dislike this book but I also didn’t love it. We follow brother and sister, Walt and Helen, and their friend, Duncan, as they move away from their childhood hometown in Sydney’s western suburbs and live their lives. Realistically, we just meander through their lives and not much of note happens. They aren’t happy and who they all are by the end of the book left me feeling pretty meh about the whole experience. There was potential here but it didn’t quite come together for me. 

broden29's review

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• 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