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pheeb5's review
4.0
Took me a while to get into it but I like the way it explores family relationships, human nature and I always love a good secret
mikewa14's review
3.0
disappointing - review here
http://0651frombrighton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/oh-dear-silvia-dawn-french.html
http://0651frombrighton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/oh-dear-silvia-dawn-french.html
tidybex's review
4.0
A good storyline, a good concept and a good read. Mixing humour with seriousness, this book provided great big belly laughs as well as an empathy with all the characters. Two pieces of advice: 1. Do not drink red wine whilst reading - it is apt to spray from one's mouth unexpectedly when an extremely funny paragraph is read. 2. Don't read it and drink red wine whilst you are on a plane and do not have a change of top in your hand luggage. A very good tale and a real page-turner.
humblesoup's review
dark
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I loved learning about the protagonist from the views of the people visiting her in the hospital, it was a charming plot device and worked well in twisting a mysterious tale about the life and struggles of Silvia.
I know some people struggled with reading the dialectic language, but getting to hear it as part of a full-cast audiobook was a real treat. I did get frustrated with certain aspects and characters, but had a good giggle a few times throughout.
I went into this book expecting belly laughs, like I had while reading French's "A Tiny Bit Marvelous" some years ago, and was initially slightly disappointed at this books markedly more somber tone, but once I adjusted to the new tone, it was a nice relaxing read and listen overall. I had a good, cathartic cry at the end as it related to a personal experience, but generally helped me handle grief in a new light.
Warning - This book contains lots of talk about health, a loved one being in a coma, along with discussions death, abuse, substance abuse, neglect and war. There are also mentions of racism and has one or two uses of outdated language in discussing other races and religions.
I know some people struggled with reading the dialectic language, but getting to hear it as part of a full-cast audiobook was a real treat. I did get frustrated with certain aspects and characters, but had a good giggle a few times throughout.
I went into this book expecting belly laughs, like I had while reading French's "A Tiny Bit Marvelous" some years ago, and was initially slightly disappointed at this books markedly more somber tone, but once I adjusted to the new tone, it was a nice relaxing read and listen overall. I had a good, cathartic cry at the end as it related to a personal experience, but generally helped me handle grief in a new light.
Warning - This book contains lots of talk about health, a loved one being in a coma, along with discussions death, abuse, substance abuse, neglect and war. There are also mentions of racism and has one or two uses of outdated language in discussing other races and religions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Rape, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Medical content, Addiction, Confinement, Alcoholism, War, Murder, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, and Cursing
Minor: Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Bullying
charlie_allin's review
5.0
“She didn't know that I was dead inside, that I had ruled out the chance of joy ever again. Of that night and every other night to follow. I had fully settled into my unhappiness and wore it comfortably. So comfortably in fact, that it was barely perceptible to others. It just fitted me so well. My suit of misery hung happily on me. So happily that she assumed I could have "a lovely night" in it. The loveliness she referred to was so extremely far out of reach for me. It as far as... the bloody moon.”
This is the first book by Dawn French I have read, and, as I always am with new authors I was skeptical, however, there was no need to be. This book has made me laugh out loud and had me come close to tears. The way it is written makes you feel as though you are there experiencing each characters difficulties. I fell in love so much with Tia, Winnie and Cassie each for a different reason. As the book went on my heart ached for Silvia and the things she has done to protect her family knowing that they will never understand. The ending is perfect, although not happy it is the one that the book, the characters and us the readers need.
This is the first book by Dawn French I have read, and, as I always am with new authors I was skeptical, however, there was no need to be. This book has made me laugh out loud and had me come close to tears. The way it is written makes you feel as though you are there experiencing each characters difficulties. I fell in love so much with Tia, Winnie and Cassie each for a different reason. As the book went on my heart ached for Silvia and the things she has done to protect her family knowing that they will never understand. The ending is perfect, although not happy it is the one that the book, the characters and us the readers need.
the_ninnas's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse and Suicide attempt
owls_rainbow's review
4.0
Content warnings for suicide and domestic abuse.
A fascinating novel where we never officially meet our main character. At least not in her words. We hear about her from the perspective of other people and slowly learn the full, true story about her life.
This was so uniquely formatted, I've never read anything like it before. Everyone's voice was very individually written although not in the best way necessarily... There were two non-white characters: Jamaican nurse Winnie, and Tia who was from Thailand I think, I've already forgotten that detail... But Tia's way of speaking seemed very stereotypical and the way that Winnie's accent was written was very overdone and hard to read. I think it could have been toned down a lot.
My other main criticism was that none of Silvia's family appeared to learn the truth about what happened and I thought that was sad but I guess that's life, you don't always get all the answers.
A fascinating novel where we never officially meet our main character. At least not in her words. We hear about her from the perspective of other people and slowly learn the full, true story about her life.
This was so uniquely formatted, I've never read anything like it before. Everyone's voice was very individually written although not in the best way necessarily... There were two non-white characters: Jamaican nurse Winnie, and Tia who was from Thailand I think, I've already forgotten that detail... But Tia's way of speaking seemed very stereotypical and the way that Winnie's accent was written was very overdone and hard to read. I think it could have been toned down a lot.
My other main criticism was that none of Silvia's family appeared to learn the truth about what happened and I thought that was sad but I guess that's life, you don't always get all the answers.
roseymayreads's review against another edition
1.0
Was quite disappointed in this book. Found it really hard to get into and none of the characters were that likeable.