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bea_reads78's review against another edition
4.0
The first 250 pages are an unrelenting series of scenes in which every single one of the female protagonists are sexually exploited by men, often violently. To what extent was that necessary, I’m not sure, but it was hard to read and a slog for me. The latter 2/3 of the book our main characters get to do things other than suffer, and the book picked up imo. Interesting commentary on genuine human connection, death, and the forces that shape what things we understand ourselves as capable of
lee214's review against another edition
5.0
incredible. i love this book. the story is so moving and heart wrenching
smcbain89's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
daja57's review against another edition
5.0
Shortlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize and the 2022 Women's Prize for Fiction
Two interleaved narratives tell the birth-to-death bildungsroman of Marian Graves (and her twin brother Jamie, and her childhood friend Caleb Bitterroot), a young American girl who loved flying and disappeared on an attempt to fly around the world, over the two poles, in 1950, and the current story of the wild child actress who plays her in the biopic. It's a big book, full of incident and humour and packed with details that create such a sense of authenticity that I googled Marian to see if she was a real person.
I was captivated by the story of Marian and her brother and Caleb; when they were in peril, my heart was in my mouth. I was enthralled by them. And the counterpoint story brought humour and lightness to the book.
Enormously readable and great fun.
Two interleaved narratives tell the birth-to-death bildungsroman of Marian Graves (and her twin brother Jamie, and her childhood friend Caleb Bitterroot), a young American girl who loved flying and disappeared on an attempt to fly around the world, over the two poles, in 1950, and the current story of the wild child actress who plays her in the biopic. It's a big book, full of incident and humour and packed with details that create such a sense of authenticity that I googled Marian to see if she was a real person.
I was captivated by the story of Marian and her brother and Caleb; when they were in peril, my heart was in my mouth. I was enthralled by them. And the counterpoint story brought humour and lightness to the book.
Enormously readable and great fun.
cboll's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual violence
reading_at_the_zoo's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
2.5
calamity_katie's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
emaybury's review against another edition
4.0
This was not an easy book to get into but I’m glad I did. The full read served my tender heart.