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anglophone_historique's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction
paigereitz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Incest
_rowan_'s review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Gore, Incest, Cancer, Rape, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Infidelity, Suicide, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Violence
hannah_bookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Grief, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Vomit
harleyburch's review against another edition
- 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
How would they ever understand my life is more than cider? Complex than that. Fuller deeper richer. Irritation that. Something. Not as good as me in the back of my head.
When I read that this was an experimental novel, I didn't expect it to be quite so jarring. At first, I saw this as a negative; I felt as if the style was drawing me away from the characters rather than into their lives. It wasn't until the end of the novel that the grammar-less stream-of-consciousness style started to speak to me. It was this disjointed use of the language that put me at such unease. Strikingly, this book is bleak - very bleak. Our nameless narrator is subjected to terrible events that become relentless as she slowly but surely tugs us into her head. I had no idea how a book written like this without much plot could end but the ending - while still very bleak - was impressive and memorable. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone (definitely pay attention to the content warnings) but it was a challenged yet insightful experience.
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, Sexual assault, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Medical content, Suicide, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, and Violence
casbee's review against another edition
the plot is uninteresting, the characters are insufferable, the content is disgusting, and the lack of quotation marks makes it all the worse.
personally i don't think you can throw trauma and sex and no quotation marks together and call it a masterpiece.
i cant remember anything from the story and nothing about the book was good.
dreadful experience; never again; no. i wouldnt recommend this book to my worst enemy.
Graphic: Incest, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Medical trauma, Violence, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Bullying
Minor: Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, and Infidelity
jsfbec's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, and Alcohol
dashes101's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
As an experience: this book is maybe a 3.5 star read. Its difficult and challenging with very, very few hopeful moments. The relationship between the main character and her brother (to me) felt underdeveloped in their youth and hence the end of the book didn't have the same impact as I felt it could have had. The ending however, is beautifully written, and I really did enjoy it. I also understand the different themes the book juggled (sexuality, coming of age, and religion) but I felt like there was a lot happening all the time that wasn't really developed (?). Things just happened with no real need or reason, which is very fair because that's how life is! But it led it to be a little bland at times. I also understand the reasoning for the main character's sexuality 'growth' (not the right word) but it was extremely uncomfortable to read about.
As a piece of literature: probably 4 / 4.5 stars. I love how unique and aggressive the style is -- it draws you in and persuades you to keep reading. It's almost as if the writing is another character that improves the characters in the novel. I also commend McBride for sticking through and getting this book published after 9 years of rejections. It's definitely worth a read (IF you look through the warnings first and are in a good head space) but don't expect an easy read.
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Incest, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Suicide, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Child death
Moderate: Alcohol