Scan barcode
skaterhick25's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death, Police brutality, Grief, Violence, Rape, War, and Genocide
ashpeckk'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? Yes
5.0
Moderate: War, Death, Blood, Child death, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape and Cancer
rebecca_bluedragonskeep_books'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Death, Sexual assault, Cancer, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Racism, Physical abuse, Child death, Rape, Death of parent, Genocide, Hate crime, Murder, War, and Gun violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Blood, and Torture
tbrickner'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? Yes
4.5
The last quarter of this book had me sobbing uncontrollably. Kristin Hannah takes you through World War II France with two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle. Hannah's storytelling grips you, making you feel like you're right there with them. The bond between Vianne and Isabelle is so well written. Their relationship is complex and dynamic, filled with resentment at times, but there is still so much love. Love is carried throughout this book, even in the most painful parts, love stays steady. Highly recommended, but be prepared to have your heart and your emotions thrown all over the place.
The first chapter set in 1995, with its hint of mystery about the narrator's identity, kept me guessing until the very end. Not knowing who was the narrator in the first chapter and going back to that narrator in other chapters throughout was an interesting way to keep me as a reader pushing forward to find out which of the characters lived beyond the war. And when the truth was finally revealed, I found myself sobbing even more.
For audiobook readers: I did a tandem audio/physical read, and the narrator did a great job with all the various accents of characters.
Trigger warning: it's emotional and heavy at times, doesn't shy away from brutalities and horrors of war, tackling topics like violence, rape, and death.
Graphic: Rape, Child death, Gun violence, War, Death, and Sexual assault
kaligray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: War, Death of parent, Child death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Torture, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Miscarriage
kdevine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Medical trauma, Antisemitism, Violence, Terminal illness, Excrement, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Genocide, Death, Death of parent, War, Abandonment, Racism, Physical abuse, Gore, Cancer, Rape, Blood, Torture, Gun violence, Grief, Child death, and Miscarriage
itsmeliguesss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Miscarriage
daydevillarreal'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? Yes
4.75
It was as beautiful as it was heartrending.
Graphic: Genocide, War, Violence, Gun violence, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Abortion, Cancer, Child death, Death of parent, and Death
stephliljazz'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? It's complicated
5.0
I'm going to share some quotes.
"I know that grief, like regret, settles into our DNA and remains forever a part of us."
"The past has a clearity I can no longer see in the present."
"Does one follow a leader blindly?"
And my favorite.
"Americans. They didn't listen."
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Deportation, Vomit, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Genocide, Rape, Abandonment, Death of parent, Death, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, and War
erinvasut's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Genocide, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Blood, Murder, Rape, Slavery, War, Child abuse, Body horror, Child death, Antisemitism, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Violence, Deportation, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, and Torture