Reviews tagging 'Death'

When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O'Neill

14 reviews

ravenanjell's review

adventurous dark slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Classism, Rape, and Abortion

kaitisbooknook's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Marie Antoine, the sole child and heir of sugar factory owner Louis Antoine, and Sadie Arnett, the daughter of a wannabe, morally righteous politician, form an unlikely but distinctly intense and passionate friendship in 19th century Montreal. When a childhood game of make believe results in the accidental yet tragic death of one of the Antoine family’s maids, the girls are forced to separate - an event that not only had far reaching consequences for the ladies and their families, but for the entire world.  

I can easily say this is my favorite release of 2022, my personal favorite read of the year so far, and now one of my all-time favorite books. O’Neill masterfully explores the various ways in which women, but in 19th century Montreal and present day, are oppressed, whether that be by societal shame or the law of the land. She explores struggles of gender and gender identity, sexuality, class, and international relationships in a way that ties together both eras, showing us we may not have progressed as much as we think we have. 

Through incredibly lyrical yet concise writing, she draws you in from the first chapter and doesn’t let you go even after you’ve finished the last page. Her omniscient narration that even knows the minds of pigs and inanimate objects is at once sympathetic and brutally honest, so you will deeply care for each character even while acknowledging their great imperfections.

Given the recent news regarding the threat to our own bodily autonomy in the United States, I urge you to pick this up. I cannot recommend it enough. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Sexual assault

prairieraven's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Medical content, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Lesbophobia, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexism, Bullying, Classism, Violence, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

oliviasbookshop's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

So glad I got to read this novel ahead of its release in February 2022! It is classic O’Neill — filled with unexpected metaphors, magic realism, and unique phrasing you won’t find in any other novel. I enjoyed the historical setting, which is unlike any of her previous works. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Toxic relationship