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carolyngrace's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism and Suicide
Moderate: Child death and Rape
reading_ladies_blog's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicide, Torture, and Forced institutionalization
ladylothlorien's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I always devour the Gamache books and they are responsible for many bad book decision nights. Louise Penny does a fantastic job of ending chapters in a way that makes me desperate to keep reading.
I do like how intricate the plot was with this one. What was connected and what was not? And I guessed the solution, but Penny did a great job of muddying the waters so I wasn't quite sure until the reveal. I am also always appreciative that no one is perfect. Gamache is not always right and doesn't always make the right decisions. Nor do some of the other beloved characters in this series. But there is a running theme of community as family in this series, so you get to read about the hard work that goes into repairing damage that someone has done and the process of forgiveness as a person is brought back into the community. I also really liked the theme in this book of misunderstanding, some of it deliberate and some of it not. Penny did a great job of really digging into Haniya and how she is perceived; she challenged her characters to confront their behavior and assumptions, pretty much shaming them for it. And to see how the characters then challenge themselves to do better is amazing.
It's important to note that in this book, the COVID-19 pandemic is over, but there are many references to it. What hurt my heart most is that the world came together to do what was needed to stop the pandemic...and that isn't what happened in the real world. So to clearly see this alternate reality in which there are no masks and everyone can freely be around others because everyone got the vaccine (and wore masks/socially distanced) is a little heartbreaking. It's very in-character for the world of Three Pines, but never have I more fervently wished that the Three Pines reality was ours.
It's important to note that in this book, the COVID-19 pandemic is over, but there are many references to it. What hurt my heart most is that the world came together to do what was needed to stop the pandemic...and that isn't what happened in the real world. So to clearly see this alternate reality in which there are no masks and everyone can freely be around others because everyone got the vaccine (and wore masks/socially distanced) is a little heartbreaking. It's very in-character for the world of Three Pines, but never have I more fervently wished that the Three Pines reality was ours.
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Murder
Minor: Dementia
There are some tough topics in this one. The long-ago death of a child with severe disabilities is discussed in detail, a 22-year-old woman who survived being enslaved, tortured, and raped for years is a focal character, and the lasting effects of a long ago mental health doctor who forcibly held his patients captive and tortured them in the name of science are covered. Some of those patients went on to die by suicide. And then there's the thesis put forward by Abigail Robinson. Behind a spoiler cut even though it's pretty clear within a chapter what it is.leslie_overbookedsocialworker's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Confinement, Torture, and Grief
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