Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Matrix by Lauren Groff

23 reviews

savvylit's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

On the surface, a book about a 12th-century abbey may not sound particularly riveting. Yet, in creating this fictional biography of Marie, Groff conjures a very compelling and loveable protagonist. Without spoiling too much, Marie is possibly the most powerful female heroine in English literature. Her wit and her dedication to her sisters is both unmatched and admirable.

It is hard to put into words why Matrix was such a joy to read. This book contains so much and does it all so well. Gorgeous prose, religious fervor, heartbreak, revenge, lesbian sex, labyrinths, boundless female power, divine visions, sisterly solidarity, and passionate love.

If you like historical fiction or strong female heroines (or both!), I implore you to read Matrix.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Sexual content, Grief, and War

Moderate: Rape

have_a_doris_day's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Child death, Confinement, Dementia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Terminal illness

Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, War, and Rape

erica_palmisano's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Gorgeous language, a fascinating period, and amazing characterization. The narrator was topnotch, and u recommend the audiobook. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Lesbophobia

Minor: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, and War

teresareads's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Death and Grief

literarylion's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Pros:

• A unique and refreshing take on historical fiction, especially medieval historical fiction
• Strong character development 
• Groff's grasp of medieval verbiage and phrasing is precise but not overwhelming to the point of seeming cheap

Cons:

• Extremely slow; frustratingly so at times
• The pacing and structure are a bit muddied; I wasn't clear on what separated each section from the next
• Pretty dense

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Blood, Body shaming, Child death, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Grief, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and War

Minor: Alcohol and Rape

sarahna's review against another edition

hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

balth_the_chaotic_good's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, and War

sincerelyleah's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Child death, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Grief, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and War

msjenne's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Rape, and Religious bigotry

stevie's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Terminal illness