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reading_rainbow_with_chris's review
- 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? No
3.75
“The Crane Husband” by Kelly Barnhill
At 15 years old, and mature for her age, a young girl in the Midwest carries far more than her fair share of household duties in the wake of her father’s death and her mother’s artistic impulses. But when her mother brings home a giant crane as her next lover, things in the house became far more tense than ever before.
In this tight 120 page tale, Kelly Barnhill has once again revealed herself as a master of magical realism. I pounced on this after having read her stunning novel “When Women Were Dragons” and devoured this in 24 hours. I do think it’s worth noting, however, that “The Crane Husband” has its fair share of flaws. If I sit and think through the experience with a critic’s eye, the pacing feels off for how quickly the major twist becomes apparent to the reader ahead of the characters. As a result, the suspense is not as effective. I also found myself at times incredulous at how skilled, how brilliant, how effective the protagonist was in roles well beyond her years or experience. Yet she was never found out. Somehow, this felt less believable than the giant crane lover. And yet, this story was riveting from start to finish and I absolutely loved the journey. It’s imperfect, but some of the best things in life are. Highly recommend for fans of magical realism tinged with a touch of horror.
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: Gun violence, Vomit, Sexual content, and Domestic abuse
ehmannky's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Violence and Gun violence
fluffyreadsthings's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence
citrus_seasalt's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Minor: Gun violence
oodles17's review
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence
tamara_joy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Gun violence, Animal death, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Blood, and Death of parent
twistykris's review
- 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
4.75
“On the farm,” she said quietly, “mothers fly away like migrating birds. And fathers die too young. This is why farmers have daughters. To keep things going in the meantime, until it’s our time to grow wings. Go soaring away across the sky.”
There is just something about the way that Kelly Barnhill writes that just consumes me. She has the ability to write bizarre, disturbing, sad subject matters so beautifully. I've read When Women Were Dragons, and this has a very similar feel in regards to the magical realism and the stifling emotions around motherhood and women's transformations to leave it.
I went into this vaguely familiar with the original Japanese tale of "The Crane Wife" and I found this was an interesting, emotional retelling of it from the perspective of an unnamed 15-year old girl trying to protect and take care of her younger brother, while her mother- a weaver- becomes consumed by an abusive, mysterious crane-man. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Child abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, and Gun violence
Minor: Bullying
didireadthat's review
- 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? No
4.75
This was a really fast read and very interesting. I loved the writing, it was descriptive but not to the point that the plot was lost in the narrative.
The basic story of the eldest child finding her widowed mother is deep in an abusive relationship and will do anything to protect their younger siblings was a sturdy backdrop for the magical realism in the story. Knowing how the plot would most likely develop made it easier for me to accept the crane in this story and not get so distracted by the impracticality of it and I could really enjoy the fable aspect.
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit and Blood
rhymeswpicard's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Gun violence and Animal death
marywahlmeierbracciano's review
5.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Minor: Terminal illness, Gun violence, and Murder