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chickengirl__'s review
4.0
this is a book about bad things happening. in the first half of the story, i feel that there was not a balance between good and bad enough to give weight to anything. it felt very hopeless and quite bleak/indifferent. part of this was the transformation that Lena undergoes throughout the book. Her being rather unlikeable in the beginning of the novel again just made it feel flat. Her only personality trait seems to be wanting to become a doctor, and she is rather unkind to almost
everyone around her. By the second half of the story has Lena develop into a much more complex and likable woman, which was really when the emotions of the book actually started connecting with me. The story of all the family goes through makes the end so heartbreaking, Seeing them fight so hard for survival throughout the entire book just to die when they were promised freedom and after Lena had taken so many precautions to keep them healthy was so cruel though I do feel that it went by too fast, especially considering that other heart wrenching moments Lena’s SA were drawn out, so I don’t know why the final events felt so rushed. The beginning of this book was just two bleak (like 2.5 stars), while
the later parts were much better (5 stars)
everyone around her. By the second half of the story has Lena develop into a much more complex and likable woman, which was really when the emotions of the book actually started connecting with me. The story of all the family goes through makes the end so heartbreaking,
the later parts were much better (5 stars)
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Genocide, Death of parent, and Child death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, and Medical content
Minor: Murder, War, and Dementia
kelleywithanextrae's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Medical content, Death, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Dementia, Rape, Medical trauma, War, and Child death
Minor: Abortion
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