You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
mooncandy's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Antisemitism, Medical content, Outing, Colonisation, and Classism
moony_reads's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
In Memoriam is sensational. Beautifully raw and gripping with the most talented prose and narration I’ve read in a while. It’s intimate, it’s genuine, it’s moving and it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.
I don’t think I have it in me to write a full review now, but I might be able to later. It’s just an instant classic and I don’t have words.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
terranstorm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The thread of slowly building romance between Ellwood and Gaunt felt well-balanced with the drama and action, contemplation of the machine of war, and the very deep, very personal injuries both suffered (physically and mentally). The prose is lovely and slow and haunting throughout. They struggle and don't necessarily "get better" but they keep trying, work to grow and forgive.
It's not a one-to-one comparison at all, but: I think this is great for fans of works like the Song of Achilles. Although it's a different sort of tragedy than that, the feeling was along the same lines: I went into this looking for a good, hearty cry and boy, I got it.
Graphic: Gore, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Homophobia, and Classism
Minor: Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Claustrophobia includingatamano's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Sexism and Death of parent
mneex05's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail
hmatt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The characters' perspectives and emotions are conveyed in that just-right balance where they are (probably?) historically accurate - some level of repressed, some level of entitled public school boy, etc. Even though the narrative focuses on two privileged men, I thought the author did an alright job of incorporating other diverse voices into the story. The incredible class privilege of the two MCs is definitely consistently acknowledged.
I could "leave" some of the quotations from ancient epics and old poets I haven't read, but I don't feel alienated by their inclusion. In the context of the MCs and their upbringings and personalities, they make sense.
Format note: I really enjoyed this audiobook. The production is exceptionally well thought-through and the narrator does the different character voices impeccably.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Murder, Outing, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
lanamae's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Grief
readsbyklng's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
How alive it all seemed, and how gracious—to die in an era where your death bought you a brief moment at the centre of something. To be important, rather than one of millions
Sometimes, when I briefly pause to take in what’s happening within the story, my mind flashes briefly back to the snippets of their life before war. The warm laughter of friends, sneaky glances, and hidden declarations of affection. How everything came tumbling down due to a war that never really benefitted anyone despite how the state paints them to be in memoriam.
This book ripped my heart out and placed it at the center of the battlefield. The story was violent, raw, harrowing but at the same time you can’t look away from all the carnage. Winn’s writing swept me off my feet with her prose. The use of non-linear timeline and point of view switch made the story engaging and all the more human.
I love how the story painfully reminds you how devastating war is for everyone. From our main characters, Gaunt, and Ellwood, all the way through the unseen characters written in memoriam. War never takes any prisoners. Reading through the effects of war (physically and mentally) was painful to read. You can’t look away feel the weight of their responsibilities and the weight of what they bargained for every time they go out to attack. War was violent and quick. It left me gripping up until the last chapter, fearing that something may have happened to separate the two of them again. I treasured the bonds that grew between boys and men united and forged from the throes of war—of deep friendships and short-term camaraderies.
The love. God, the love between Gaunt and Ellwood went through so much. From juvenile prejudice at their boarding school, internalized homophobia, to licking each other’s wound at the end of it all. It was beautiful having something ike that through war and death.
The book made me cry, laugh, angry, and ache for characters no matter how small their page time is. It was truly a gripping read. I hope other people will also get to enjoy and relish the love shared by Ellwood and Gaunt and all the characters in the story
Graphic: Body horror, Suicide, and War
blanxx_2102's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I approached this book in full knowledge of the *very* general overarching plot: two young men (Ellwood and Gaunt) enlist in the war effort and fall in love in the meantime. However, I was not expecting the sheer depth of the novel. I was firstly taken aback at how real and beautiful the main characters' friendship is while they're attending Preshute school. The way in which Winn explores both boys' longing (with a capital L) for each other- all the while being in denial that their affections are reciprocated- completely pulled at my heartstrings. Then, Winn added salt to the wound when they enlist, which is only healed when they reunite. I will avoid spoilers, but I will say that the emotional rollercoaster does not lessen, however, her writing is so captivating and vivid and stunning that even the pain is worth the read.
In addition, I was truly in awe at how much research must've gone into the book, which Winn perfectly showcases in a way that doesn't feel like you're reading a history book. I learned so much about World War I- be it about life in the front and trenches, how enlistment worked, the variety of afflictions and injuries possible, the treatment of prisoners of war, the In Memoriam columns... You name it, Winn covers it. I also really like that she doesn't sugarcoat any dark history facts, it made the narrative all the more credible. It often felt like, as readers, we were right at the frontline with the characters.
I would urge everybody to read this because it is such a fantastic, emotionally intricate, thought provoking read that kept me raptured for every page and which will make me reflect for a long time to come.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Classism
spellbindingtomes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism