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aellis0116's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Wayyyyy too slow paced!
ktaylorhurley's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe 3.5 stars. This book made me sad every time I picked it up. But I couldn't bring myself to leave it behind, unfinished. Sometimes it was beautiful. Sometimes it was over worked. Sometimes it was so simple and real. But literally every page had some sadness in it at least for me.
pbraue13's review against another edition
3.0
Like most of Joyce Carol Oates books this novel is a sprawling, almost gothic, beautifully written book that is almost overwritten. It's a look at the changing dynamic of a family after a tragic event and my gosh a good chunk of this book I was angry. If there was a gold medal for Bad Parenting the matriarch and patriarch of the Mulvaney clan would win it - that's all I will say about that. But it was also fascinating and Oates' prose is fascinating and fun, but also sometimes meandering and pointless at others. At some point I believe she lost the plot, possibly around the point she goes into detail about a cat's kidney problems for several pages. 3/5 stars
smartens's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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
2.0
katliana's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
lmbs's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
fkshg8465's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Felt like the slow parts could’ve been better paced and the parts that really should’ve slowed down were rushed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Chronic illness, and Rape
lmac3's review against another edition
I kept reading hoping that something would catch my interest, but I felt after 200 pages there was still nothing. Too many words and nothing being said.
codercaitlin's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.25