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ariatari'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence
galerieanna25'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
5.0
Graphic: Abortion, War, Sexual assault, Rape, Torture, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child death, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Murder
chia_ie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the ending was so good. the very few past pages. so, so good. the characters were all so flawed, so human. but i loved them all regardless. it was as if i actually knew them. the stories were surreal, yet gutting to read, because i fear that some of the events that took place are not far from the reality of life back then.
if you have the patience, i would absolutely recommend this book. the one downside is that i didn’t find it to be a book i could relax with. i had to be focused to work out the connections between characters and such. i even ended up drawing family trees to help myself
this book was great. i’ll miss the Jashis.
Graphic: Rape, Abortion, War, Suicide, Police brutality, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Murder, Death, Torture, Addiction, Violence, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Cancer, Alcohol, Grief, and Alcoholism
shelleyanderson4127's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The story begins with great grandmother Stasia, born in Tsarist Georgia. Her son Kostya battles the German invasion of Leningrad while daughter Kitty flees to the West. Stasia's beautiful sister marries a rich Party official, while grand daughter continues the family legacy of rebellion. The tumultuous history of both Georgia and Russia weave in and out of this family saga. Translated by Charlotte Collins and Ruth Martin, this prize-winner novel is a real page turner. The story will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended.
Graphic: Addiction, Rape, Colonisation, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, and Domestic abuse
erikwm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Violence, Infidelity, Grief, Abortion, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, War, Sexism, Rape, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Addiction
sherbertwells's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
“Despite my years of struggling both for and with this country, I have not managed to replace it, to drive it out of me like an evil spirit that beset me. No ritual purification, no repression mechanism has yet been of any assistance. Because everywhere I went, travelling further and further from my country, I was searching for the squandered, scattered, wasted, unused love I’d left behind” (10)
“For Daria and me, the Soviet Union meant: constant funeral marches and processions as aged gentlemen of the Communist Party were carried to their graves; carnations everywhere, macabre spectacles broadcast on all the television channels. For us, the Soviet Union meant: endless summer camps, Pioneer neckerchiefs. Tea plantations, apiaries, and kolkoɀes. White knee-socks from China, tapestries of hunting scenes on the walls, Mishka Na Severe chocolates, and Lagidze’s tarragon lemonade. Our grandfather’s GAZ-13, the brightly coloured blocks of Plasticine with the frog on them, yellow Krya-Krya children’s shampoo, Grandfather’s Start shaving cream, the talcum powder in the bathroom cabinet with the cat’s head on the pot, which we weren’t allowed to use. Hygiene body lotion and Stasia’s Red Moscow perfume, which smelled of old people and was enough to give you a headache. The odorless brown bath-soap that was actually called ‘Bath Soap’” (631)
“Live through all wars. Cross all borders. To you I dedicate all gods and all rosaries, all burnings, all decapitated hopes, all stories. Break through them. Because you have the means to do it, Brilka. The eight—remember it. All of us will always be interwoven in this number and will always be able to listen to each other, down through the centuries” (6)
Graphic: Rape, Alcoholism, Torture, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Mass/school shootings, and Gun violence
Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Infertility, Homophobia, Cancer, and Child abuse
Minor: Antisemitism, Fatphobia, and Cannibalism