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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Emma Donaghue might just be one of my new favorite authors. I loved this book! The writing is descriptive, the characters are well drawn out, and I went through a range of emotions while reading this.
This is one those stories where I didn't particularly like anyone in it- with the exception of Anna and the reporter- but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I give credit to Donaghue's skill for this, because despite my disdain for the main character, I believed her thoughts and actions and kept on reading.
Highly recommended for anyone that likes well written, character-driven historical fiction.
This is one those stories where I didn't particularly like anyone in it- with the exception of Anna and the reporter- but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I give credit to Donaghue's skill for this, because despite my disdain for the main character, I believed her thoughts and actions and kept on reading.
Highly recommended for anyone that likes well written, character-driven historical fiction.
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was recommended in a "Read With Pride" section on Libby and I'm honestly offended. Not only is there absolutely NOTHING queer about this story, it's actually about the repressions of religious and sexual trauma. I went into this thinking there would be queer representation and instead watched a child starve herself to death to excuse the sins of her rapist. wtf 👀
Second read, same rating. I'd forgotten the most critical part of the story so that was fun to rediscover.
I liked this book, and wish I liked it more. The first half was slow but definitely picked up in the back half. I would say it's worth the read and I would try this author again..I very much want to read Room. But I would have liked the pacing to be faster and the first half to be less repetitive.
This book took me good while to get through. To me, the first 3/4 of the book were very slow. The last 50 pages were what earned this book a third star, the climax hit and it was a shocker!! I’ll be thinking about the ending for a while, but I just think this whole story could have been told in half of the amount of pages in which it was written.
dark
reflective
tense
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Atmospheric and moving. Brutal indictment of what can happen when religion tips over into superstition. Honest about English ignorance and prejudice about the Irish in the 19th century.
The story sucks you in as you, like the main character Lib, are eager to get to the bottom of this so called phenomenon of an 11 year old girl who claims to be surviving without eating for the past 4 months. As a Christian, I felt some of the critique and cynical portrayal of religion to be off putting, but ultimately any fault lies with the people and not the religion itself. I very much enjoyed going on this journey and was pleased with the resolution, even if it seemed a bit far fetched.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief
Minor: Incest, Sexual assault
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-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