Scan barcode
erebus53's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Tells the story of... well.. title says it all really.
Thematically this is a story of revenge and spite, and leaning hard into the Ageism that paints elderly women as powerless little-old-biddies who don't have all their faculties.
I found the humour hilarious when it was implicit, but a little frustrating when I would get a joke and then it was spelled out explicitly afterwards.
Maybe this woman is like a dowager Dexter. I wouldn't want to cross her!
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Gore
Minor: Body horror
azureumbreon'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Domestic abuse and Alcoholism
nebraskanwriter's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I thought this book was going to be taking a more A Man Called Ove approach but instead it took a total Dexter approach.
This is an 88 year old serial killer who will kill anyone who wrongs her or thinks is going to wrong her. And I know many people in other reviews have said this was “hilarious” and I’m glad that they enjoyed it but how calculating she was, how she did not have any remorse and how she did it all for selfish reasons (even the abuse situation, she killed the husband so she could go back to having a peaceful Christmas day. She did not do it for the abused wife).
I thought this would be giving Carl from UP, where yes he goes against the people trying to take his home but it is kind of loveable and endearing, his grumpy outer exterior because you discover that inside, he is actually a really nice person. Or in A Man Called Ove, same thing he is rebelling against the system that is taking advantage of his wife’s horrible accident, but he does not go and kill the people that wrong him! And as the book goes on, we see that Ove does have a heart, like Carl.
There was nothing redeemable in Maude. She killed anyone that so much stepped a toe out of line or did her wrong in any way, even stabbing one of the men at the grocery store when he couldn’t get her the ham that she wanted.
I know many people loved this and thought this book was hilarious. It is definitely me, not you. I thought this was going to be a light hearted book but it was just a book about an old woman brutally murdering anyone who wronged her, that was it.
Nope, not for me!
Graphic: Gaslighting, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Medical content, and Violence
binreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Body horror
ashleybakerwrites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Homophobia and Sexism