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Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Death of parent
Minor: Xenophobia
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Alcohol, Classism
Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
The first half of this book is a lot of exposition, setting the stage for the driving action. But it’s done well, creatively, interestingly. In other words, “nothing happens,” and I was *almost* bored with it, but I only had to push through a little. It kind of reminds me of Spoon River Anthology with the intertwining of lives and stories of a small town where everyone knows everyone and always have (except the newbies, but that’s not portrayed as harshly as many of this trope).
While it’s a sports town, the sport itself doesn’t take a front seat. It truly is the background while still sating any love for it.
This definitely borders on literary fiction bc the structure is done in a very precise and lovely way, using almost poetic mechanisms such as repeated phrases and parallelism. The narrative style also has a starkness that reflects the setting and the situation, and vice versa. Tension and foreshadowing are done in an obvious but not ridiculous manner. The *way* it was written is as well done as the story itself.
This is definitely a book for consideration. The story is laid out, and while there’s no ambiguity as to “what happened,” there is much speculation to be made as to why and how and what the underlying issues are and how else they affect society. There are no stark answers given. Bad behavior is mentioned, implicated, but not condemned outright. That’s for the reader to determine, negotiate in some cases. Anyone who feels this is moralizing is probably on the more brutal side of the issue.
The narrator Marin Ireland does very well in complimenting the narrative style as well. It’s 3rd person, and the author is male, but I’m pleased they chose a female to tell this story. Such topics through the male perspective can be troublesome, but I feel like the author did well and the narrator helped convince me of it.
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death of parent
Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Violence, Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Blood, Death of parent
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
minus half a star for the amount of times i threw the book across the room in complete and utter frustration, it was hard to keep reading at times. way. too. realistic. which isn't the book's fault.
i'll take a little break before reading continuing the trilogy because i need time to process this lol
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Rape, Violence
Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Drug abuse, Grief, Death of parent