You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
This book beautifully and hilariously describes how completely horrible and completely wonderful a weird and lonely teenage girl can be. I loved it.
Edinburgh day trip read on the Megabus!
I read this for my English class, and I really appreciate how interesting the reading list is. The story centers around a young girl who is isolated in her youth and struggles to maintain the image expected from her as a young woman living in Scotland. She also must navigate a complicated relationship with a mother who does not like her. I found the language understandable and the story intriguing. It was quite sad... I notice this being a trend across Scottish literature. One line I found impactful was "Sometimes Janet thought that life's sole purpose was to teach one how to die." Barker tells a story about never fully embodying one's livelihood and living in a constant state of numbness and grief.
The ending made my jaw drop even though I was told what would happen. It was very similar to Spark's "Bang-Bang You're Dead."
I read this for my English class, and I really appreciate how interesting the reading list is. The story centers around a young girl who is isolated in her youth and struggles to maintain the image expected from her as a young woman living in Scotland. She also must navigate a complicated relationship with a mother who does not like her. I found the language understandable and the story intriguing. It was quite sad... I notice this being a trend across Scottish literature. One line I found impactful was "Sometimes Janet thought that life's sole purpose was to teach one how to die." Barker tells a story about never fully embodying one's livelihood and living in a constant state of numbness and grief.
The ending made my jaw drop even though I was told what would happen. It was very similar to Spark's "Bang-Bang You're Dead."
dark
reflective
sad
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
This is one of the best books I have ever read; the fact Barker published this when she was in her 50s and it's her first (and only) novel is friggin awesome. Beautifully written and darkly hilarious, I can't believe this isn't required reading - simply wonderful.
spooky dark little book, fitting read for october. learned many vocab words too
emotional
reflective
medium-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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is everything. I loved hating, loving or feeling truly apathetic for all of the characters. Janet … is perfection. She is so freaking human. Twisted compassion coexisting in cruelty. I think I need to read this book a few more times. There’s so much to take in. This book made me laugh out loud thrice, by the way.