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mombythebooks's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse and Infidelity
Minor: Death and Suicide
scourtheatlas's review against another edition
- 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? No
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death
smallish_bird's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Confinement and Sexual content
jabberwalky's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Suicide
toebeans's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Body horror and Child abuse
Minor: Death
anastasiamakes's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.0
In the acknowledgements of this book, Gaiman mentions that this was meant to be a short story, but it got away from him. And personally, I felt that - I'm not a short story person.
It also reiterated to me that I don't like horror, which I didn't realise this was. There were some absolutely beautiful, fantastical passages in here, and then I felt those were just ruined by segments of horror and gore.
All a bit "it was all just a dream, or was it?" for my tastes.
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death and Suicide
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a children's book, written for adults. Which is a genre I didn't know I needed, but I absolutely loved. Our unnamed narrator sits at the ocean at the end of the lane as an adult, and tries to make sense of his memories. As a child he seems to have implicit trust in grown ups, and he has to deal with the discovery that their behaviour isn't always right. So it's natural that he clings (both in the story and inexplicably in memory) to the Hempstocks, who really do have all the answers. The Hempstocks are wonderful characters, and I fell for them right away. They take our protagonist into their protection; but when the nightmares begin their absence renders everything that much scarier.
There's something wistful and nostalgic about the writing, and you can tell this was a story drawn from Gaiman's own childhood. It's a brilliant exploration of childhood fears, and how our memories are reshaped as we grow older.
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Child abuse
oliverreeds's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
carbinara's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Suicide
royalty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexual content
Minor: Gore, Infidelity, and Gaslighting