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dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked up this book because I saw several readers hyping it up on social media. I personally don't see the hype. The writing style, though quite stunning in sections, felt contrived. I felt hyper-aware of the writing style in a way that sometimes took away from the reading experience. Not sure if others will relate to this. I wished characters would have normal conversations instead of constantly saying the most philosophical, perfectly-phrased reflection on the nature of life. Especially the child and teen characters. Just felt off to me.
This book was extremely slow paced. Like it's a "thriller" in the sense that they are tracking a serial killer, sure. And the chapters are short to artificially make it feel like a page turner, but it was much too slow of a burn to truly be a thriller. Though I never read thrillers so maybe I'm wrong. The middle section was hard to get through. I kept wondering how this book could possibly be almost 600 pages, and I SAVOUR a long book if it's good. I gave it an extra .5 star for the last 50 or so pages that gave a satisfactory ending (though too many loose ends were tied up, in my opinion). Interested to hear what people who loved this book have to say.
This book was extremely slow paced. Like it's a "thriller" in the sense that they are tracking a serial killer, sure. And the chapters are short to artificially make it feel like a page turner, but it was much too slow of a burn to truly be a thriller. Though I never read thrillers so maybe I'm wrong. The middle section was hard to get through. I kept wondering how this book could possibly be almost 600 pages, and I SAVOUR a long book if it's good. I gave it an extra .5 star for the last 50 or so pages that gave a satisfactory ending (though too many loose ends were tied up, in my opinion). Interested to hear what people who loved this book have to say.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Well, I didn’t see myself giving this 5 stars, but here we are. First of all, I think this book has been placed in the wrong genre category. All the Colors of the Dark is definitely a literary fiction story with a crime story subplot. This book is not a mystery and not a thriller. Instead,this is a book which allows the reader to follow the aftermath of three kids who were in the cross-hairs of a serial killer.We watch the kids grow up over the course of 30-ish years dealing with their issues the best that we can they can. We see how violence and trauma can affect people and how it can be people’s driving force for the remainder of their life. This book is expansive and sweeping. A beautiful story of friendship and love, beekeepers and pirates. IYKYK. Would this ever be a book that I would normally pick up? No. Was it long as hell? Yes. Was it daunting when I picked it up? Yes.Was every page worth it? Yes. What a beautiful read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest, Rape
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-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
This is all about Saint for me; she's just wonderful. Patch may be the catalyst but Saint is everything. The writing is stunning, so filled with colour even at its darkest moments.
It slows down a bit in the middle, but I found I liked that because it's when the characters really got under my skin. And by the time I reached the final third I literally could not put it down, devouring 200 pages in less than a day.
I'll admit, at some point I questioned whether it was as brilliant as the reviews I'd read; I felt like there were a lot of questions and that maybe I'd missed some detail that would tie things together. I should have had more faith because by the end I understood everything and more that I'd never expected.
I wept through the last few chapters, I was so emotionally invested that finishing was bittersweet. Such an incredibly human story with the most amazing characters, this might be the best book I've read this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Abortion
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Suicide, Abortion
Minor: Incest
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A book impossible to describe. It is exquisitely written; meandering but always with intent and meaning. You will find few specific details, but it is written in such a way as to paint a more vivid whole than would be possible with conventional prose. The themes are dark and difficult, but the story is beautiful and complex and nuanced as are the characters. Absolutely amazing!! I didn't want it to ever end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Incest, Suicide
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Kidnapping, Abortion, Death of parent, Abandonment
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
This book wrecked me. Entirely and absolutely.
It's the slowest paced thriller I've ever read, but the short chapters paired with a writing style that leaves you guessing did add a certain level of thrill.
I loved the complex, flawed characters and their relationships with one another. It's a heartbreaking but beautiful story. Many plot twists, some of which I really didn't see coming.
There's a lot going on in this book--maybe a little too much, maybe it's longer than it needed to be--but overall, it was a captivating and moving read.
It's the slowest paced thriller I've ever read, but the short chapters paired with a writing style that leaves you guessing did add a certain level of thrill.
I loved the complex, flawed characters and their relationships with one another. It's a heartbreaking but beautiful story. Many plot twists, some of which I really didn't see coming.
There's a lot going on in this book--maybe a little too much, maybe it's longer than it needed to be--but overall, it was a captivating and moving read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Classism
Minor: Homophobia, Rape, Suicide
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Murder