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yellowfri's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
gyllenfjell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
ciaranimhuiri's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
amela's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There’s just something about Irish literature that always has these melancholic and sad undertones that just make me bawl my eyes out…
jordieisreading's review against another edition
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bellaruffell's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
marnj's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
marthaos's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
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? No
4.0
I knew going into this book that it was going to be a tough read and a real tear-jerker. It was both of those things, but also warm, funny and hopeful. Both character and plot driven, it was really nicely structured, with a dual timeline, both written from different perspectives, those of Finn and his older brother Joe.
The story centres around young Finn as he confronts and battles a really tough illness and how it affects all those closest to him, in particular older brother Joe, his mother, trying to keep everyone together and his father doing time in jail for dealing in drugs. Finn and Joe in particular have a gorgeous relationship and I found this brotherly connection so moving and so perfectly portrayed. I won’t say too much more on the plot except that Joe is drawn into the same drug ring as his father and there is the continuous question of what path he will follow.
The dialogue in this novel is really convincing and the Dublin idioms and accent really brings the characters to life. The setting is very specifically inner city Dublin and life in the flats. The characters are very connected to their neighbours, there are few secrets due to their proximity to one another and for better or worse, everyone knows everyone. And there is a real sense of neighbours being like family and of the prevailing warmth and goodness of people despite being in the midst of a darker drug scene.
Overall a really moving novel, where very sad and dark themes are explored with a lightness of touch leaving the reader with a true sense of hope and an understanding that life goes on and life and love persists.
The story centres around young Finn as he confronts and battles a really tough illness and how it affects all those closest to him, in particular older brother Joe, his mother, trying to keep everyone together and his father doing time in jail for dealing in drugs. Finn and Joe in particular have a gorgeous relationship and I found this brotherly connection so moving and so perfectly portrayed. I won’t say too much more on the plot except that Joe is drawn into the same drug ring as his father and there is the continuous question of what path he will follow.
The dialogue in this novel is really convincing and the Dublin idioms and accent really brings the characters to life. The setting is very specifically inner city Dublin and life in the flats. The characters are very connected to their neighbours, there are few secrets due to their proximity to one another and for better or worse, everyone knows everyone. And there is a real sense of neighbours being like family and of the prevailing warmth and goodness of people despite being in the midst of a darker drug scene.
Overall a really moving novel, where very sad and dark themes are explored with a lightness of touch leaving the reader with a true sense of hope and an understanding that life goes on and life and love persists.
matthewgeraghty's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.25
amixmcg's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved this, it was such a heartbreaking but beautiful book