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angelofthetardis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The plot feels like quite a slow burn; it's certainly not an action packed storyline, but even within the fairly domestic setting there is something about the way this is written that keeps you engaged. In my opinion, it's actually the stories of the main character's oldest and youngest child that really cry out to you as a reader; seeing a teenage boy influenced into 'drinking the Kool-Aid', not just through peer pressure but through educational indoctrination and media bias feels so real and relatable, particularly considering the issues the US are currently experiencing. And the instinct to scream at the unfairness of a little girl suffering a nightmare and not being able to call out for her mummy then celebrating when she wins an award for saying the fewest words in a day... it's heartbreaking.
The book reads like the author looks at those of a religious persuasion and is genuinely perplexed at how their beliefs lead to such fanatical behaviour. Now, clearly that is not reflective of every person of faith, but the author has done a very good job at illustrate the 'extreme' end of Christian conservatism in the US (at least, it's recognisable from a Brit's POV!) It's also a great social commentary on the importance of using your voice when you can; vote when you have the opportunity, stand up for your rights and the rights of others and take an interest in current affairs, politics and the world around you so you can try to make a difference, rather than getting stuck in a situation you don't like without ever having said a word.
This book is very much the author writing ehat she knows; her accreditation as a neurolinguist is stated in the 'About the Author' section. While it does make for interesting reading, at the same time her knowledge does shine through in the use of technical jargon and other elements. As it is quite a niche field of interest, it does make the book a little hard to follow in places and a little 'mad scientist-y' in the resolution. But overall it's still a very readable and understandable book.
I was also slightly disappointed by the ending. I appreciate that the story is told from one character's perspective, but that does mean that the denouement isn't witnessed firsthand and so the key scene is actually just referred to in a vague conversation between two characters. After that slow build, it would have been nice to see the outcome firsthand .
Pleasantly surprised by this!
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Medical content, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Homophobia, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Death, Animal death, Gun violence, and Infidelity
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Abortion, and Blood
sanikaaa___'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Medical content, and Sexism
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Abortion and Infidelity
tlholmes's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Grief, Infidelity, Body horror, Confinement, Medical trauma, Torture, Death, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
ilo_the_duck's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Medical content, Infidelity, Gun violence, Homophobia, Police brutality, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual content
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Self harm, Blood, Gun violence, Medical content, and Murder
amberrenfrey'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Violence, Sexual content, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Police brutality, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Transphobia, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Cursing, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Death, Abortion, Biphobia, and Domestic abuse
jmboff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
***SPOILERS AHEAD****
<Spoiler>
Jean wasn't really that impressive of a main character. I hated her affair with Lorenzo and how accepting Patrick was of it. Like no fight or anything left in him, but he dies for her and it's like she didn't even care too much.
And Dell and Sharon, I wish their stories were more involved.
There was just too much of the same type of scenes. I enjoyed a good portion of it, but wish it expanded more on other plot lines and less on the plot line of them working in the lab incessantly.
I also feel like it was too unrealistic and forcing it to be realistic. Obviously it's fiction and dystopian. But I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that you can't even get half the population to agree to wear a mask, but we're supposed to believe that the entire country would be okay with putting electric shock devices on all women to punish them for speaking? I just couldn't even imagine this in a fictitious sense. You're telling me not one single person or group would fight back and uproot that system or attempt to assassinate the president and they just go along with it? Nah.
</Spoiler>
Overall it was alright. Thankfully it was narrated by Julia Whelan so that saved it🤣
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Torture, Blood, Death, Medical content, Violence, and Religious bigotry
ashybear02's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Murder, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual content
gemma7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I was really enjoying the book but the ending was not IT!
Why is everything told and not shown?
Some things were too convenient to be true
Also, Olivia was at Patrick's funeral? Surely she couldn't have survived what happened to her?? Unless it was her one handed ghost.
Still quite impressive for a debut novel.
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Suicide, Medical content, Death, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, and Misogyny
Moderate: Pregnancy and Homophobia
Minor: Abortion, Blood, Self harm, and Sexual content
field_of_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Police brutality, Murder, Medical content, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Hate crime