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khandle3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.0
three things:
- epics aren’t for every writer, and from this novel that was 400 pages too long, it’s clear size isn’t everything.
- pandemic fiction may not be for me. we’re at nearly 4 years since quarantine, and this was published in january 2022, less than 2 years past 3/13/20. i stand by my claim that it’s too early for pandemic fiction, and 2022 was DEFINITELY too early.
- this story was not good, but some of the writing was.
Graphic: Sexual assault
nejenek's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Part 1 was my favourite. I really enjoyed the alternative history lore and the depth of Yanagihara's characters, even though I wasn't necessarily sympathetic towards them. But I don't have to like the characters to enjoy them, so that's irrelevant, I guess.
Part 2 started off nicely but was going at a much slower pace, which made it hard to keep reading after a finished story. Had I encountered this part as a separate book, I wouldn't have finished it.
Part 3 was very interesting, but didn't live up to the hype: yes, each new reveal really added to the experience, but they weren't important enough for me to be 100% vibing with the plot.
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
becksusername's review
- 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
4.75
Moderate: Homophobia, Classism, Infidelity, Infertility, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Murder, Sexual assault, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Toxic friendship, Cancer, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Bullying
donutlookaway's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Homophobia and Chronic illness
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Rape, and Suicide
laurynkelly's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Pandemic/Epidemic, Terminal illness, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault and War
wormgirl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Confinement, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Chronic illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Child death, and Death of parent
isobel_laura'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
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Ableism, Homophobia, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual assault
nibs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book has an epic scope. I want to reread it some day and further map out its intricacies. Its complex and beautiful and philosophical.
Graphic: Colonisation, Infertility, Death, Terminal illness, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Medical content, and Violence
danaaliyalevinson's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Grief, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
rachaelwho's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Minor: Bullying, Police brutality, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Deportation, Hate crime, Sexual content, Slavery, Colonisation, Medical content, Sexism, Ableism, Death, Classism, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Animal death, Chronic illness, Infertility, Rape, Religious bigotry, Genocide, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and War