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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
fast-paced
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think the blurb did this book a disservice. To be honest - when I read all of it afterwards. (I don't read the entire blurb bc they always have spoilers or sth that takes away from the reading experience imo). The tagline or whatever it’s called is what got me intrigued. But I also think it makes the book feel slow-paced bc it seems to take a good long while to get to that conflicting feeling (in Fiadh). And then for the story to move along.
Though beautifully descriptive writing, it takes 100 pages before the point of no return happens.
- It sounds dramatic to say but I still feel torn. Bc I expected to love this. I finished it last night and wanted some time to gather my thoughts but I don’t think I’m there yet.
I really love the Irish tone and banter and the descriptions of Belfast. Overall, I think the book captured the unspoken shame and silence of the ppl in the community/town well. I still felt sth was missing.
It was slightly frustrating (I’m sure purposely) how things were always left unsaid and bottled up completely. Things just go back to the mundane. We don’t have anything resolved through words on the page or even between the ppl indirectly. And a new chapter just skips past things as well. Sometimes that felt alienating a little, slightly surface-level rather than a ploy to carry the story along imo, if that makes sense.
And Fiadh wasn’t able to find any peace anywhere (bc she just didn’t have the support she needed). She wasn’t always likeable enough as a character, not that she had to be, but her characterisation was a bit disappointing imo. Its very hard to explain but I felt she was disjointed from the beginning so that the change was very subtle in her; we didn’t know too much about her but (fair enough) she didn’t quite know herself either. She was still learning who she wanted to be. And she was very much someone I wanted to hug and talk to, whatever it takes. Ppl gave up on her too easily.
I also thought it was slightly brutal how we’re told of videos/photos of Danielle that is essentially p0rn circulating but then we never hear of it again.
Though beautifully descriptive writing, it takes 100 pages before the point of no return happens.
- It sounds dramatic to say but I still feel torn. Bc I expected to love this. I finished it last night and wanted some time to gather my thoughts but I don’t think I’m there yet.
I really love the Irish tone and banter and the descriptions of Belfast. Overall, I think the book captured the unspoken shame and silence of the ppl in the community/town well. I still felt sth was missing.
It was slightly frustrating (I’m sure purposely) how things were always left unsaid and bottled up completely. Things just go back to the mundane. We don’t have anything resolved through words on the page or even between the ppl indirectly. And a new chapter just skips past things as well. Sometimes that felt alienating a little, slightly surface-level rather than a ploy to carry the story along imo, if that makes sense.
I also thought it was slightly brutal how we’re told of videos/photos of Danielle that is essentially p0rn circulating but then we never hear of it again.
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Rape
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
A slower paced read with colloquialised language and gritty themes of loneliness, friendship and party culture.
Exile follows FMC, Fiadh, a young woman from Belfast who loves a party. On the cusp of adulthood, exams finished and life stretching out before her, she goes out for a night on the town where everything changes [and in typical Irish fashion, the rumour mill and “shame” follow her into her new life despite physically leaving the country].
Another gorgeous example of Irish literature. Well worth the read.
Exile follows FMC, Fiadh, a young woman from Belfast who loves a party. On the cusp of adulthood, exams finished and life stretching out before her, she goes out for a night on the town where everything changes [and in typical Irish fashion, the rumour mill and “shame” follow her into her new life despite physically leaving the country].
Another gorgeous example of Irish literature. Well worth the read.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts
Very vivid descriptions of self harm
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt