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leah_alexandra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Terminal illness
drizzlybear's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Alcohol, Vomit, Terminal illness, and Racism
porchrailreads'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
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When Edinburgh begins, we meet Fee, a young Korean-American boy growing up in Maine. He’s joins a boys choir where he meets Peter, his best friend and first love. Fee quickly draws the attention of the choir director, becoming amongst the first to be sexually abused by Big Eric. Fee is afraid to tell, even when it becomes clear Peter is next. Fee tries to forgive himself for his silence even after Big Eric’s arrest, but this becomes next to impossible when Peter takes his own life.
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Burdened still by the events of his past, Fee tries to move on. He builds a life for himself, finds friends, and starts teaching near his hometown. There he meets a student bearing an alarming resemblance to Peter. Their encounter reopens wounds, forcing Fee to face his past head on.
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If you’ve watched my stories over the last few days, you’ll know I had a very big reaction to this novel. It’s beautifully written, lyrical and melodic, metaphors expertly crafted to illicit strong images and reactions. Shortly after finishing the novel, I’d read that the author used his own past as the basis for this novel, it’s writing a means of catharsis. The inclusion of his experience makes Fee seem real. He is the most complex and complete character I’ve read in a while. Chee’s discourse on the residual effects of trauma, the enduring self-blame, the prolonged sense of loss is necessary.
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If I’d written this review last night, I would’ve said the only issue I had with the novel was the end. And while I’m still not thrilled with the ending, after sleeping on it I can better understand. Hurt people hurt people.
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I truly recommend this, but be advised the trigger warnings are real: trauma, sexual assault, pedophilia, self-harm, drug abuse, violence.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
recollections's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Sexual content
manarnia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Murder and Racial slurs
tabitha_isabelle's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Medical content, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence