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mabechel's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Definitely worth reading because it explores the process of aging and dying in a refreshingly straightforward way. The characters are a bit 2D sometimes and the plot a bit predictable/fanciful in spots.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Abandonment, War, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Pregnancy, Chronic illness, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol, Medical trauma, and Miscarriage
laheath's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Easily 4.5 stars. Although the characters are the heart of this story, the title character is initially not so loveable. Eudora is 85 and lives alone with her cat, who is also not so loveable. Eudora has no family or friends and has decided she is done with life, so she makes arrangements with a clinic in Switzerland where they will help her end her life on her terms, with dignity. As she is awaiting a decision from the clinic, she begins to encounter people in her neighborhood that stretch her beyond her comfort zone, in a good way. At the end of each chapter, there are flashbacks to various years in her past which tell of key moments in her history and help to explain how she turned into the woman she is today. Naturally, the cast of characters changes as it would in any life. As the reader begins to sympathize with Eudora, there's also a transformation beginning in her that gives some hope that she will reconsider her decision with the clinic. Unfortunately, Eudora has put too many walls up around her heart over the years, but maybe her 10 year-old neighbor, Rose, or the widower, Stanley, can help her see that life is still worth living.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Bullying, Car accident, Infidelity, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Child death, and Animal death
yvo_about_books's review
4.5
Finished reading: March 13th 2023
“Life is precious and as long as we have a reason to continue, we should follow that path.”
I have a weak spot for contemporaries with older main characters, and I've been meaning to read The Brilliant Life Of Eudora Honeysett ever since it was first published back in 2020. I also love a story with a focus on unlikely friendships, and the connection between Eudora, Rose and Stanley sounded wonderful. What I can say is that I'm definitely kicking myself for not reading this story sooner! I highly enjoyed my time with this book, and I can understand why it has such a high rating. The Brilliant Life Of Eudora Honeysett can be divided into two storylines: the present with the focus on the unlikely friendship between Eudora, Rose and Stanley and Eudora's decision to end her life on her own terms, and the flashbacks to different points in Eudora's past. I do have to say that I thought the present timeline was stronger and I felt more invested in what happened there. Not that the flashbacks aren't interesting, but they are quite bleak and especially Eudora's younger sister Stella was horrible. I'm never a fan of a cheating element either... Thankfully, the present does manage to distract you from the past, and the flashbacks do help explain why Eudora is the way she is. What made this story work so well for me has a lot to do with the fact that it's so easy to connect to Eudora and the rest of the cast in the present, and I loved seeing the connection between her and both Rose and the other characters grow. It's a character driven story, and as such their development is strong and realistically done. I liked the balance between lighter moments and more serious topics, and the ending itself was refreshing. All in all The Brilliant Life Of Eudora Honeysett definitely turned out to be a winner for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Animal death, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Bullying, Dementia, and Suicide attempt
runefactories's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Animal death and Infidelity
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