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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I will preface this by saying that I’m not a big magical realism person. For me, this novel was one that was unexpectedly dark and devastating. In a way that felt like a lot of trauma that just happens and there’s no resolution. Magical realism that seemingly had no point that I could see was hard. But I know many friends who loved this book so maybe it’s just over my head! I think if you love magical realism and really dark stories with lots of sadness, you would like this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Biphobia, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Colonisation
A miracle, a son/brother and a family struggling. The story pulls your heart strings, so much pain, struggling, but also so much love for one another. Yes, the book was dragging a bit, definitely not a fast read, but the author really took its time to really give us an opportunity to get to know the characters fully.
Recommended.
Recommended.
adventurous
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
Absolutely loved the writing, so vivid and visual, loved how real the family dynamics were, loved the coming of age and the climbing and the basketball and the sense of knowing what Hawaii smells and looks and feels like, loved the very real look at what it’s like to come from nothing, even loved the magical element running through this for the most part - but felt let down by the ending.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
its such a long book and just could not get into it to justify spending that much time reading it
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
What an incredible read! It took me a bit to get into it, but it was so worth it! Each character is incredible and I loved each of their stories. It was so different from what I usually read. Such a powerful story.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes