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bseigel's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Pregnancy, Suicide, Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Incest, and Self harm
Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
hannahwinston's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexism, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, and Suicide
lk3ssaf's review against another edition
3.25
I didn't learn that the story was based on real crimes that took place against Mennonite women until after I had read the book.
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Suicide, Child abuse, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Death of parent
mtehan7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Slavery, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Suicide
cassie7e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Some may also dislike that it's narrated by a man, and that the "minutes" are more of a transcript.
I'm surprised that so many reviews disliked the religious focus of the discussions when it's clearly about Mennonite women, people in an explicitly religious colony separated from the rest of the world. Of course religious questions will be of primary concern for these women! And I did not see them as cold and inadequately outraged - they are seriously discussing actions that defy their entire social structure as a result of the atrocity they experienced, and as many trauma victims, are detaching themselves from the feelings so they can make decisions without shutting down and losing their opportunity to make a choice at all.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, Self harm, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Vomit, Death, and Miscarriage
madelinequinne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, and Child abuse
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Suicidal thoughts
daniellekat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Sexism
Moderate: Death and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
lauowens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Sexual assault
ismerene's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
I think the biggest misstep in this novel that cascaded into other issues is the method of which the story is told. No speech is direct. Everything, save for our narrator, is spoken in passive statements, and it serves to deaden a lot of emotion about the situation at hand, as well as removing a large bit of personality from each character. There were a few moments of creepy, chill-up-your-spine implications and sudden, graphic depictions - all of which had heavier impact due to the otherwise banal narration - but overall it only served to turn much of the story into a slog.
The narrator's gender didn't bother me as much as his long-winded inserts did. Separate from him explaining certain cultural nuances, the insert of his background or his encounters outside the meeting felt frustrating. What really chapped my hide however were the comments and odes about one character he pines for. In the context of what this novel is centered on, it comes across as almost... creepy. It's all soft and emotional, but like, she's pregnant because she was raped. I'm not sure if this is to grow the narrator's character, or to illustrate a statement on men overall, but either way it was, also, annoying.
Based on other reviews, it seems as if the choices made here were stylistic, in which case I can confidently say the style is not for me. I think if this had been handled a bit differently, and maybe some choices - in narrator, particularly - were changed, this would be rated much higher. As it stands however, I didn't much care for it.
Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Incest
chelly_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, and Suicide