Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

7 reviews

vannahcabana's review

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

I picked this book up on a whim from my library’s new books bookshelf. I have to say it’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! Loosely based on a true historical event, it details the journey of Marion separating from her family and following her dancing dream. There were little twists throughout that kept me reading. It did not end like I thought It would. I really recommend if you’re into historical fiction with mystery and twists! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Death

Moderate: Dementia and Medical content

silverhill's review

emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Chronic illness, and Death

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Toxic relationship, Murder, Grief, Terminal illness, Dementia, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Gore, and Mental illness

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Car accident

kimveach's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I loved learning about the Rockettes.  I had never heard of the Big Apple Bomber and enjoyed how the author worked the mystery into the story about Radio City Musical Hall and the dancers.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Abandonment, Car accident, Chronic illness, Murder, Death, Mental illness, Gore, Misogyny, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Medical content, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

laurenabeth's review

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.25

What a fun read. I was looking for something a bit lighter and fun, and this ended up delivering in spades. This is the story of a newly minted Rockette who gets caught up trying to solve a crime that hits too close to home. 

I’ll be brief, but The Spectacular is quality historical fiction with a strong female lead. While some parts are predictable and its villain is based on a real criminal (so a quick Google might spoil the ending), I enjoyed the glitz and glamor of Radio City in the 50s. Marion is a compelling protagonist, and Fiona Davis does a wonderful job of being true to the era while showing that women were breaking molds and being true to themselves. 

I think this book is, at its core, about following your dreams and not allowing convention or tradition to stifle creativity and innovation. More importantly, it’s about the sad truth that most women, but especially women of that time, had to chose between lives of stability and lives of self expression. 

My sincerest hope is that books like this remind women that it’s okay to shrug off expectations for desires, and it’s also okay to be frustrated at having to trade a sense of independence and individuality for “safe” life in the suburbs. Marion serves as a great example that “having it all” might look different for different people.

And as they say, you can have it all, but not at the same time…

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, and Violence

Moderate: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Panic attacks/disorders

cc_shelflove's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Child death, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Grief, Violence, Terminal illness, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Blood

Moderate: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Chronic illness

Minor: Confinement, Car accident, Dementia, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting

mtnest's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Grief, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

torturedreadersdept's review

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book was way better than the other book I’ve read by this author, The Magnolia Palace. The topic (the Rockettes) combined with other details (starting to use psychological profiling to solve crimes) and the time period (mid-50s) made it feel pretty compelling and unique! I found the main characters more likeable and was much more emotionally connected with the storylines. It was a page-turner - I wanted to stay up late and finish because I really wanted to find out what happened (not because I wanted to get it over with so I could get to my next read). I really enjoyed this book and definitely feel it is a strong historical fiction for this year so far!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Body horror, Grief, Infidelity, Stalking, Dementia, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Car accident, and Pregnancy