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partly_stars's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
It's an alright book. It falls into the "middle class families being toxuc and horrible toe ach other" genre and condenses it into 2 days with some flashbacks.
Most of the chracters are just sketched out. A lot of is left vague. The narration focuses on the subjective emotions of the chracters which works for the story but leaves me with a lack of details to make them memorable. I finishedbthe book and I'm still not sure what Martyn'd and Leah's deal is for example (and why tf was Martyn following Patrick at the end).
The nove tries to sketc out a troubled family with the mentally abusive narcissistic slef absorbed father/husband Ray in the centre. What it did well is making me genuinely feeling angry and frustrated with him (and also Martyn). Shoeing how he is a shadow looming over all of their lives and how years of sremingly small comments add up to messed up life. Like a death by a thousand papercuts.
Most characters are hard to like and I wish their inner lives were mote expanded upon, especially since the novel changes perspectives multiple times.
All in all, it will probably be a pretty forgetabble book to my disappointment. I hoped for a more in depth portrayal of a broken family but it was mostly one note.
Most of the chracters are just sketched out. A lot of is left vague. The narration focuses on the subjective emotions of the chracters which works for the story but leaves me with a lack of details to make them memorable. I finishedbthe book and I'm still not sure what Martyn'd and Leah's deal is for example (and why tf was Martyn following Patrick at the end).
The nove tries to sketc out a troubled family with the mentally abusive narcissistic slef absorbed father/husband Ray in the centre. What it did well is making me genuinely feeling angry and frustrated with him (and also Martyn). Shoeing how he is a shadow looming over all of their lives and how years of sremingly small comments add up to messed up life. Like a death by a thousand papercuts.
Most characters are hard to like and I wish their inner lives were mote expanded upon, especially since the novel changes perspectives multiple times.
All in all, it will probably be a pretty forgetabble book to my disappointment. I hoped for a more in depth portrayal of a broken family but it was mostly one note.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Moderate: Blood and Pregnancy
Minor: Eating disorder and Self harm
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