1.76k reviews for:

Julia: A Novel

Sandra Newman

3.8 AVERAGE

novelswithnikita's review against another edition

5.0

challenging informative inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

wingnut_52000's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

sarahmennell's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

catcat15's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

sleepycaboose's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 74%

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Gave up when it got to the

torture

. It felt excessive.

k_dot's review against another edition

4.0

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lolos_books's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

kpbookcorner's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark tense medium-paced

mike_c's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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My star rating is an average, really.  Half of me says 2* and the other 5* often for the same reasons.  Orwell's characters were, I'd suggest deliberately, flawed; often offensively so, especially from a current perspective.  Newman does addresses this well but sometimes it feels too contemporary (though not innacurate and made me question my own reactions).
In some ways that misses Orwell's main point about totalitarian Stalinism and, I would argue, in 2025 that is more relevant than it has been for half of my life.  So my equivocation especially applies to the ending...

in "1984," Orwell adds an appendix which isn't really about Newspeak but hope.  I do wish "Julia" had the same as, while reflecting current political cynisism, Newman's conclusion is far bleaker.

nyctheaterreader's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes