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beckyalbon'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? It's complicated
4.5
Minor: Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and War
sophtanda'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual content, War, Sexism, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Colonisation, Grief, Death, Mental illness, Infidelity, and Sexual content
bumble_abi'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? It's complicated
4.0
The multiple perspectives really help to nail home the novel's key themes about the utterly ludicrous nature of racist British attitudes, particularly against the historical backdrop. I really loved that all our narrators are flawed in some way or another - all equally human, with weaknesses that overlap in really resonant ways (the way Hortense and Bernard both jump to conclusions, how Queenie and Hortense both consider themselves a little above those they grew up with, how Gilbert and Bernard both naively cling to hopes of heroism and harebrained schemes for riches, how Queenie and Hortense and Gilbert all get married for primary reasons that aren't love). There's a wonderful subtlety to Levy's characterisation, and her characters are so believable.
I don't think the novel necessarily needed the
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and War
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, Sexual content, Colonisation, Infidelity, and Gore
Minor: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Child death, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
pia_h's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Cursing, Racial slurs, Racism, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, Death of parent, Genocide, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Violence
Minor: Blood and Grief