Reviews

The Back of the Turtle by Thomas King

csgiansante's review against another edition

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3.0

3.25/5. Showed a lot of promise but I don't know if there was any pay off. The ending felt rushed.

churchillemilye's review against another edition

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funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

kchin's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • 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

I'm impressed by the range of King's writing style and ability to weave indigenous storytelling in every stroke. I would be happier if Dorian dies a painful death but realistically doesn't happen to most villains (except Steve Jobs).

kendra_kay79's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 ⭐️

leyza052's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad 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

seld0m7's review against another edition

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4.0

Took a while to 'get' but was worth persevering 

kierstyn's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective sad slow-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

4.0

it's fine, this book struggled to hold my attention as when anything exciting happened the author would cut the scene short. I think there were many chapters/paragraphs that could have been cut, for example, there are many descriptions of characters making/eating food. usually I love long books when stuff is actually happening but I think this one could have cut out a lot. 

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lynda11's review against another edition

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inspiring medium-paced

4.75

sevenswanz's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative slow-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

King leads the reader through a tale as old of time with his lyrical writing style and immense capacity for embracing an unknowing that goes hand in hand with the familiarity of what it means for a community and life in a place to wash out with the tide and struggle, belatedly and exhausted, back to shore, even if forever changed.
This book shows the ugly, hard parts of being a person - a person who feels lost, adrift, searching for somewhere to make sense of themselves - and says "Wait, come back. Sit down. Stay awhile, and maybe we can figure it out together."
Suicidal and maybe just tired, Gabriel has no desire to save himself, but operates on instinct when it comes to pulling people, one after another, out of the tide he meant to drown in.
Mara is a closed off woman as vulnerable to the desire for belonging as the rest of us.

What does it mean to accept guilt and carry it? How does it bend our backs and change the lock on the door?

bham123's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0