374 reviews for:

Henry Henry

Allen Bratton

3.69 AVERAGE

frasmcm's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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can't believe a yank wrote this

askirmishofwit's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional funny slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

anna_k98's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

dcluckwell's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

nealio9's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This novel is ambitious, and Bratton does a lot of it well. 

chaoscat's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

marmite98's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny hopeful fast-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

mxtt_c's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

laluquev's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I slowly became very endeared with Hal, despite none of the characters being lovable, I cared for him a lot by the end. 

The ending may not be satisfying because there is no “justice” of the abuser getting what he deserved but I think it’s more reflective of the complexity of reality and human emotion and behavior. I think all too often we care more about the punishment of abusers than the people they have abused.

Another point: I think it was a realistic and nuanced portrayal of how someone who was subjected to CSA reacts to it and their abuser. I think those of us who have not experienced CSA find it too easy to say that we would hate our abuser, and I think Hal definitely does feel hate, but he also feels love for his father which, hurts him too. It’s not easy to cut off your abusers, especially when they’re family. 

His disassociation from his body and pleasure and how he engaged in sex I thought were also incredibly realistic. It also didn’t shy away from the uncomfortable truth that, sexual stimulation, even if it is through rape, can bring orgasm and in no way does that justify it. Orgasm is not consent. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Incest, Sexual assault

Moderate: Homophobia

marciepan's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark funny tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes