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starrybooker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
When Liv Little’s prose gets going it really takes you by the hand and sweeps you into the world of this book. The middle section in particular I felt she had gotten into her groove and it was where the book most shined.
However. You can tell this book is a debut. There were sections of writing, particularly the beginning and end, which felt quite clunky, particularly with the dialogue. While this is character-driven work, the plot points that were there often felt quite contrived and clearly only existed to get Elsie from point A to B. Yes, all plot technically exists to do that, but as a reader it should feel natural.
I also think first-person present was the wrong tense to use. It’s a very hard narrative technique to pull off, and it highlighted some of the clunkier plots points that might have been hidden by good prose in a third or first-person past. There was a lot of ‘I pick up the phone, I go to the next room, I pick up my pen’, all quite serviceable writing could have done with more descriptive detail.
I was also completely blindsided by the last 20 pages of the book, which came completely out of nowhere and just felt like Little didn’t have the confidence in an ending, and so added in a ‘dramatic moment’ to bring everything together.
A good book that had the potential to be great - there’s so much in Rosewater that is compelling, and I can’t wait to read what Little does next.
Graphic: Car accident
cass_ward's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Car accident
noah_silver's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Car accident, Grief, and Sexual content
tlaynejones's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Gaslighting and Car accident
nerdysread's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
Parts were unnecessary. One last thing, the MC was 😬 most of the time. Like go get therapy girl
Graphic: Sexual content, Car accident, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Drug use
kaywhiteley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I also thought the main character was just so unlikeable, and not in a compelling way. It was difficult to watch her make the same mistakes over and over and over again, have her come to jesus moment, repeat the mistakes, and then see everything work out for her at the end.
I can see the appeal of this book but it was not for me.
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Racism
drawahardline's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, and Car accident
Moderate: Death
aishallnot's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
I enjoy a good coming of age story, especially when the mc is in their 20s. This i think was a decent debut but i kinda have mixed feelings.
First, i love how diverse this book with the characters. I feel like this definitely served a purpose in regards to the ethnic backgrounds of the characters as well as the queer community in london. Elsie is definitely going through it (though she can be hard to root for at times) and it was refreshing to see how she has people that she can reach to for support besides her family. She's very close with her grandmother and i loved seeing that relationship whenever she was showcased. I also liked maggie and how she was almost like an auntie to elsie and encouraged to use her gift of her writing as well as her voice (something her grandmother also strongly instilled in her) .
Speaking of which, i definitely related to elsie at times in terms of not being openly vulnerable and even wanting to become a best selling poet/writer. i loved how she has the determination to go after what she wants and expresses herself through writing instead of speaking (i definitely do that 😭).
Now, here's where some things fell short. I feel like plot wise,
The writing was fine and easy to read (not a lot jargon-y words), but i kinda wish there was more showing how the characters feel than telling. Especially with a book so written emotion heavy, i feel that we didn't get to see that until the end.
Lastly, there were some plot points and even like 1-2 characters i wish were shown more.
Again i think this is a decent debut and i don't think its a bad book. I just felt there was something missing within the story and now finishing it i can think what could have been added. I heard the author has another book so I'm intrigued to see what she will wrote next.
Graphic: Sexual content and Car accident
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Blood
mo_za11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Infidelity and Blood
leoniepeonie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I listened to this as an audiobook and thought it was excellently performed by Little's wife.
Graphic: Car accident