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bookswithjk's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
siobhanward's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
I love crows, so the idea of a crow eating grief and being almost a grief counsellor was great for me. Porter's work is always beautiful and I love how the story unfolded in this. The three POVs (Dad, Boys, Crow) were so different in their approaches to the mother's death and way in which they were coming to terms with it. The writing was creative and clever. I do feel as though I may have missed something in the father's love for Ted Hughes - I've never read any of his work, so I feel as though I may have missed some references, but it did not impact my read through of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
velokei's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An exploration of grief that hurt my heart. I think there were some parts that went over my head a little, there’s probably a deeper meaning to crows rambles. I’d recommend looking up the names if you don’t recognise them, as knowing about Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath is important to the narrative. I liked that grief itself wasn’t an obstacle to get over, simply a long project that you never really finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Animal death
lief_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
quesarah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Grief
lauradanby's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
A beautiful book reflecting on the journey of grief.
Crow is such an interesting character - I can’t figure out if he is a deformed monster or a crow perching on the window.
“They offer me a space on the sofa next to them and the pain of them being so naturally kind is like appendicitis. I need to double over and hold myself tight because they are so kind and keep regenerating and recharging the kindness without any input from me”.
Crow is such an interesting character - I can’t figure out if he is a deformed monster or a crow perching on the window.
“They offer me a space on the sofa next to them and the pain of them being so naturally kind is like appendicitis. I need to double over and hold myself tight because they are so kind and keep regenerating and recharging the kindness without any input from me”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.5
It was a fun brain exercise but I feel like a lot of references went over my head. Nevertheless it was enjoyable, more poetry than prose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Grief, and Death
Minor: Chronic illness
izzybell's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Animal death
megelizabeth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
"I plucked one jet feather from my hood and left it on his forehead, for, his, head.
For a souvenir, for a warning, for a lick of night in the morning.
For a little break in the mourning."
This was my third time reading this book, and I previously absolutely loved it, but sadly enjoyed it a bit less this time around. I still appreciated the bold writing style and vivid, unique exploration of grief, loss, family life, and parenthood, and it's certainly a poignant read and one that I won't forget, but this time I found myself feeling more irritated by the pretension and a lot less emotionally connected to the characters and story (there's a deliberately distant tone, but I still felt much more connected during previous reads).
It's a shame that I don't love this book as much now as I previously did, but I'd still recommend it as a super interesting and weird and haunting little read.
This was my third time reading this book, and I previously absolutely loved it, but sadly enjoyed it a bit less this time around. I still appreciated the bold writing style and vivid, unique exploration of grief, loss, family life, and parenthood, and it's certainly a poignant read and one that I won't forget, but this time I found myself feeling more irritated by the pretension and a lot less emotionally connected to the characters and story (there's a deliberately distant tone, but I still felt much more connected during previous reads).
It's a shame that I don't love this book as much now as I previously did, but I'd still recommend it as a super interesting and weird and haunting little read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death of parent
bookleafcrow's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I read this book in one sitting upon recommendation of a friend, and it more than lived up to my few expectations. This book is a quick, easy read on the surface, but the content makes it a bit tougher to digest, as well as the chaotic style. Whilst I wouldn't say this book is for everyone, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and believe it to have one of the best depictions of children coping with parental bereavement in anything I've read. Very crass and abstract at times, but very sincere to the concept of sudden bereavement and single parenthood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexual content
Minor: Violence and Vomit