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simixfe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.25
Well, let's just say I expected or at least hoped for a bit more.
I loved the beginning, liked the middle and hated the end.
I mean I should have anticipated that it would not end with Henry and Sidney moving into the british countryside, going on long walks, reciting poetry and growing old together.
Still, I at least hoped for a conversation about their true feelings. I wanted Gaunt to let his guard down and tell Ellwood that he is scared that Ellwood will grow bored of him eventually and I wanted Elly to be finally able to voice his feelings in his own words and not the words of other poets. In my Imagination, Gaunt would have stopped calling Ellwood Ellwood and finally would have used his christian name and then they would have grown old together (happily). Sadly, none of that happend, except that Gaunt called Ellwood Sidney, bjt only after Ellwood basically pressured him.
It really was not a bad book by any means. I just went into it with the wrong expectations.
To end this on a more positive note: Even though it was all quite sad, there were parts where i laughed out loud. Some scenes were absolutely hilarious and Devi was the sweetest soul. And the book had great writing and beautiful quotes. The quote that touched me most was: "You'll write more poems. They are not lost. You are the poetry."
I loved the beginning, liked the middle and hated the end.
I mean I should have anticipated that it would not end with
Still, I at least hoped for a conversation about their true feelings. I wanted Gaunt to let his guard down and tell Ellwood that he is scared that Ellwood will grow bored of him eventually and I wanted Elly to be finally able to voice his feelings in his own words and not the words of other poets. In my Imagination, Gaunt would have stopped calling Ellwood Ellwood and finally would have used his christian name and then they would have grown old together (happily). Sadly, none of that happend, except that Gaunt called Ellwood Sidney, bjt only after Ellwood basically pressured him.
It really was not a bad book by any means. I just went into it with the wrong expectations.
To end this on a more positive note: Even though it was all quite sad, there were parts where i laughed out loud. Some scenes were absolutely hilarious and Devi was the sweetest soul. And the book had great writing and beautiful quotes. The quote that touched me most was: "You'll write more poems. They are not lost. You are the poetry."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Medical content, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Antisemitism, Gun violence, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
sianfh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf Publishing for this e-ARC!
I’ve written and rewritten a review of this book a handful of times yet I still can’t quite capture exactly what lies in my chest upon finishing it. In Memoriam, a historical fiction novel that takes place during the First World War, follows Sidney Ellwood and Henry Gaunt from Sixth Form, still bashful teenagers, to wounded soldiers ravaged by war, masquerading as men. You’re told about the War in History classes, gruesome stories about gas masks failing and trench foot, but it all seemed so far removed. Here, Alice Winn manages to put you right in the centre of No Man’s Land, with a heart that beats in fear and a mouth that dries up at the thought of the horrors that a generation of young men were lost to. Through it all, there is Gaunt and Ellwood, an invisible string binding them together, a constant even when they’re apart. At times my breath was taken away by the way their story is told. At a time of censorship their love was bold and loud. Ellwood’s love of poetry is woven through the storyline, even if at one point that seems to disappear, and I loved the references to Rupert Brooke and Wilfred Owen, poets who lived and experienced the stories we’re hearing here. It is quite plain the level of research that went into the factual element of this novel. This perhaps is an important feat of historical literature as well as queer literature. I’ll be thinking of this for some time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Antisemitism
Minor: Suicide and Confinement
kellysbookverse's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Antisemitism, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Gore, and Body horror
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Mental illness, Bullying, Homophobia, Torture, and Grief
Minor: Classism, Suicide, Confinement, and Death of parent
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