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dizzymisslizzy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Murder, Mental illness, Car accident, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Homophobia and Suicide attempt
town_scar'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
5.0
This novel is a true masterpiece. A combination of prose and poetry that embodies naturalism and spiritualism at its core.
Perhaps my only gripe is that I wish there had been a greater focus on non-White individuals. The main owners of the house are all white (with a single brief exception) and while the original inhabitants of the land are acknowledged they are not given a voice.
Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, Death, Homophobia, Outing, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Colonisation, Blood, Car accident, Violence, Slavery, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical content, and Body horror
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexism, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Cancer
rednikki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
But Mason only tells the story through the white people who have lived (or in one case, visited) there. Excluding people of color from point of view was clearly a decision Mason made. The first time we encounter the place, it is through the eyes of some of the first white settlers of the US; we never see it through the eyes of the historical people of the land. There is one section where there is a person of color living in the place, and Mason chooses to tell the story through the point of view of a white visitor instead.
Rutherford's books also usually have at least some time points where there is hope and happiness. In Mason's world, there is only misery, tragedy and despair. Sometimes it's just an undercurrent, sometimes it is overwhelming – but whenever his characters experience joy they are punished for it.
Do not recommend.
Graphic: Slavery, Kidnapping, Animal death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Grief, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Dementia, and Death
chloesnotscared'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? No
4.5
Moderate: Car accident and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Medical trauma, Suicide, Slavery, Colonisation, Violence, Infidelity, Homophobia, Grief, Death, Mental illness, Animal death, and Murder
atiek's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Violence, Death, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicide and Slavery
Minor: War
jesselynn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Thank you to John Murray Press/Hachette for the advanced reader copy.
Graphic: Homophobia, War, Ableism, Car accident, Death, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Murder, Gore, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, and Dementia
Minor: Alcohol, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Suicide, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Slavery