Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

14 reviews

alexklinect's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I was expecting this novel to be historical fiction, focusing on the settings of Canada and Maine and the lives of Native American migrant workers, but instead it was more like a coming of age novel, highlighting universal themes instead of specific settings. In the book itself, the mystery was solved before it began, so the story wasn’t actually about the kidnapping or, really, about the berry pickers, either. The main characters are two people with separate but intertwining stories (split point of view) and how they find themselves as they grow older after traumatic experiences. If you’re looking for an emotional, reflective, “finding yourself” novel that resounds with both familial love and challenges, try this one. 

3.5-4 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Kidnapping, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Alcohol, Violence, and Death

Minor: Homophobia, Cursing, and Child death

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Dementia, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Body horror, Murder, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Blood, Cancer, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, and Racism

sytaylor's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia and Infertility

Moderate: Grief, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, and Racism

Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Cancer, Dementia, Alcohol, Blood, Domestic abuse, Vomit, and Cursing

aposthuma's review

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book tells a beautiful and heartbreaking story of a Native girl kidnapped as a child who grows up with no knowledge of her heritage. I love the humanity and complexity of the main characters, and the ending was so sweet. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Dementia, Alcoholism, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Infertility, Kidnapping, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Racism, Death, and Death of parent

kimveach's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

4.25

I chose to listen to this book as it was on a "great on audio list."  I've heard better narrations, but the story was great.  I think I'd have liked it even better in print.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Abandonment, Cursing, Death of parent, Racism, Dementia, Infertility, Murder, Physical abuse, Cancer, Child death, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Classism, Colonisation, Racial slurs, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Violence

devynreadsnovels's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Dementia, Kidnapping, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Racism, Miscarriage, Blood, Child death, Terminal illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Classism, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Alcoholism, Drug use, Alcohol, Abortion, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Religious bigotry

elderwoodreads's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book definitely dragged at times which is such a shame because I loved the overall concept and some of the passages had incredibly strong writing. The "twist" of the book is immediately revealed and the story takes the reader through what happened to the end that is hinted at in the beginning of the story. I loved this conceptually and I feel like it actually made dual POV work for me for once. Unfortunately several of the Joe chapters felt like they should've been cut or gone through another round of edits in my opinion. The Norma chapters were all strong and I loved her story, it hit home a lot for me as someone finding my biological family. Overall I will definitely read anything else Peters publishes but I will not be recommending this to everyone I meet. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, and Cancer

Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Death, Violence, Racism, Murder, Abandonment, and Abortion

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Cursing, Vomit, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Medical content

whatsamanthadoes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I read this one for a local book challenge. The story focuses on a 1960's Mi’kmaq family who was hired to pick berries in Maine. It felt engaging having the two different point of views from the main characters and how their stories interact. Norma's perspective seem to benefit from how she tackles ideas logically. She would push back, question, and research things that didn't get answered. Overall, an emotional book that showcases family, grief, and loss.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Racism, and Child death

Moderate: Death

Minor: Cursing

abicaro17's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is amazing. Very insightful and inspiring. You really connect to both sides of the coin: Ruthie as dutiful and reserved struggling to break free and Joe as angry and lost struggling to find peace. I think while the end was a tad short it did wrap everything up in a neat and sad way. Its also hella slow and doesn't pick up till the last 30%. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Animal death, Car accident, Confinement, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Cursing, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Chronic illness, Medical content, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, and Sexism

rsagarin's review

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Racial slurs, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Grief, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Classism, Colonisation, Dementia, Drug use, Addiction, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship