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johnatetheapple's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is black magic, its dark spell distills humanity into mere mortal words in a way that leaves you feeling speechless, uncomfortable, and utterly amazed.
This book weaves a complex story of intertwined narratives which feed off each other. The disorganised way in which the story is revealed to us serves to put us in the same mental haze the characters no doubt live through, suspended between the past and the present, their demons haunting them around every corner.
This book genuinely changed something inside of me, and it has rightfully earned the spot amongst the most remarkable book I’ve ever read in my life.
The book has a slow-pace, with the events unfolding leisurely. The author pulls you into many worlds and many perspectives in quick succession, and I was fascinated with the journey. I followed her through these numerous portals with the utmost pleasure. But fair warning that it may at times be disorienting, and at others completely overwhelming, so I don’t recommend reading this book all at once or very quickly. Pace yourself.
I feel like I was genuinely pulled into the world of Ayemenem, with its grief and love and laughter. Speaking of, this books was surprisingly funny, which is not something I’ve noticed any reviews I read mention. Yes, it is poignant and life-changing and harrowing, but it’s also hilarious at times, which caught me unawares.
I feel like I know these people intimately, and if I could only have one complaint it’s that I wish we saw more of Velutha especially, and more of adult Rahel and Estha, because I feel like I was starving for more of them but was left mostly hungry.
All in all, this book should be read by everyone and taught in schools, studied in universities. I am ready to write a 70-page dissertation on it.
I am genuinely tempted to bulk order copies of this book and simply begin handing them out to everyone I know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death, Sexual violence, Sexism, Rape, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Classism, Child death, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Misogyny, and Murder
callmepipes_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Gore, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Incest
painted_bunting27's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
Tbh I hated this book and had I not had to read it for class I would have DNFed it very early on. The time skips back and forth with no warning and it’s hard to follow. There is also absolutely no reason to graphically depict the sexual assault of a child!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit and Sexual assault
parsnipsnap's review against another edition
We should just stop publishing and tolerating graphic sexual assault/rape on children, like why do you feel the need to describe it for 3 whole pages ???
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, and Fatphobia
dowsa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“this was the stuff their dreams were made of. on the day that Estha was Returned. Chalk. Blackboards. Proper Punishments.
they didn’t ask to let off lightly. they only asked for punishments that fitted their crimes. not ones that came like cupboards with built-in bedrooms. not ones you spent your whole life in, wandering through its maze of shelves” 😞
this was a very challenging read…like
literally darksided. i enjoyed the non linear narrative because in this case, it added to the confusion and blurriness that comes from retelling your childhood memories as an adult. can’t say i liked any of the characters but i don’t think we were meant to
they didn’t ask to let off lightly. they only asked for punishments that fitted their crimes. not ones that came like cupboards with built-in bedrooms. not ones you spent your whole life in, wandering through its maze of shelves” 😞
this was a very challenging read…like
literally darksided. i enjoyed the non linear narrative because in this case, it added to the confusion and blurriness that comes from retelling your childhood memories as an adult. can’t say i liked any of the characters but i don’t think we were meant to
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Child abuse, Death, and Sexual assault
amehlia's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Pedophilia, Death, Violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent and Incest
nicolelovesbooks's review against another edition
2.0
What I will say: the writing itself— the prose and poetic lyrical quality of it— was beautiful, and even cheeky at times.
But the story was hard to follow and quite frankly, horrible. I’m not going to say I regret listening to this (it was for book club obviously), but I’m certainly glad I went with the abridged version.
But the story was hard to follow and quite frankly, horrible. I’m not going to say I regret listening to this (it was for book club obviously), but I’m certainly glad I went with the abridged version.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Incest, Violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Classism
cliorr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Vomit, Police brutality, and Pedophilia
_claireb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Single-handedly the most beautiful book I ever had and ever will read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Incest
mengzhenreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book has so much to unpack. the writing? delicious. the plot? nuanced and complex. the characters? rich with history and personality. I need to reread this asap because there's just so much to analyze.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child death, Pedophilia, and Violence
Moderate: Incest, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Death
Minor: Racism