Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

17 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! 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Dementia and Medical content

serenas_reads's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Stalking, Kidnapping, Medical content, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Violence

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

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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.

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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

imstephtacular's review

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Medical content

Moderate: Car accident, Violence, Blood, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, and Grief

Minor: Abandonment, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Murder, Gaslighting, and Vomit

readingwithmeredith's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death of parent, Mental illness, Hate crime, and Death

Minor: Blood and Infidelity

luverbyrd's review

emotional inspiring lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I've heard that there was a "Big Apple Bomber", but never really the details. Davis does sum up what she took creative liberty on versus the historical truth in her author note, which I appreciated. The changes she made though breathes a new story to get you interested in the past.
This book was emotional and gripping plus an added entertainment spice delving into the Rockette world of the 50's.
I don't want to say much more because I went in knowing very little and was fully immersed in the characters and events.
"Spectacular" read!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, and Grief

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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? No

4.0

 The Spectacular is a piece of historical fiction set in New York City in 1957. I felt Marion’s passion for dance and loved seeing her pursue it despite the objections of her conservative, domineering father and her boyfriend. I enjoyed the glitz and glamour of the Rockettes and of Radio City, as well as learning about the Big Apple Bomber, based on a real man who planted pipe bombs in prominent city buildings for a period of sixteen years before being caught as a result of criminal profiling. What didn’t work was the key role Marion played in the investigation and in bringing the bomber to justice. It felt too artificial and contrived for my taste. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, and Violence

kcrockford's review

adventurous informative mysterious reflective 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? N/A

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, and Violence

Moderate: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexism

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…

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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