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thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Anyway, things I liked include:
- Marian, of course, who gets some stellar development over the course of the story
- Jamie, the sweetest animal-loving vegetarian artist who I just wanted to hug
- all of the aviation stuff—learned a lot about planes
- the second half of the book
- older, Hawaii-living Caleb
- that the ending managed to surprise me, and it wasn't the kind of bittersweet/depressing/thought-provoking ending you'd expect from this kind of book. It was still thought-provoking, but in a different way that I liked and found more powerful
Things I didn't like:
- the first half of the book (and basically everything with Barclay McQueen...)
- most of Hadley's story...some of it was interesting but overall I was much more interested in Marian's story and wanted to stay in her storyline
- a lot of the relationships were doomed because of self-sabotage by the characters basically...I can only handle so much self-sabotage
- the length of this book
Basically I think I would've enjoyed this book a lot more if the beginning was pared down a lot, if it was just about Marian with no present-day timeline, and if I had read the physical book. I'm still glad I read it! But it's a hard one to recommend to people because of the length. Lots of people have loved it though, and there are some rave reviews out there. So read it if you want, and then let me know what you thought of it :)
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Rape, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Abortion, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse
faloneran'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship
masonryangel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Sexual violence
onewoman_bookclub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Sexual violence, and War
emmagrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion, Abandonment, Animal death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, and Suicide
leekaufman'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
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence
sjanke2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Biphobia, War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Homophobia, Gun violence, Grief, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Cursing, and Child death
falfy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape
booking_along's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
i was born to be a wanderer.
it’s a great epic story mostly about the life of a woman that didn’t just fit her time but also gender stereotypes, that wanted to be who she was but accepted that it would be easy for others.
i think this book would have been enough telling marians story without adding the drama of the actress into the story.
marians story is unique and strong and loud.
there wasn’t a need to add more or another loud voice into the mix.
it didn’t necessarily delude marians story but i also don’t think it added anything.
and since i already complaining: i think this book focused a little too much on sex in some scenes. and i didn’t see the need for that at all?
i just don’t think all the mentions of sex was necessary especially the brutal scenes.
i get that sex apparently sells and it’s part of life but i don’t think it’s necessary to always describe it in every book. maybe just my opinion, but sometimes it’s not necessary to have all the details.
beside those things the book was great!
i loved the passion and need the book really managed to show, the necessity that marian felt to fly, to go, to keep in the air and moving.
but at the same time, that she clearly loved her bother and caleb and didn’t ever really to manage to actually leave them behind.
i loved the ending of the book,
i really enjoyed how it all connected together, from marians parents to her last flight.
it’s a really great book and a wonderful story.
“circles are wonderful because they are endless. anything endless is wondrous. but endlessness is torture, too. i knew they horizon could never be caught but still chased it. what i have done is foolish; i had no choice but to do it.”
“life gives you lemons, you cave off their skins and garnish your martinis”
“….i didnt deserve to be there. and maybe i didn’t, but you can’t measure fairness in a lab. you can’t know if you deserve something. probably you don’t.”
“i own him my life, lloyd had said many times.
your life can’t be a debt, she’d countered once, or then it’s not really yours, and nothing has been saved.”
“everyone knows men don’t get old, at least not in a way that matters”
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, War, Abortion, Incest, and Sexual content
oliviaja's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and War