A review by breeoxd
Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue

challenging dark emotional informative sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Sapphic boarding school regency romance that sucked me in. Adored all of it until the very end, when I realized the secondary character, who was based on Anne Lister (the first modern lesbian) was much more sinister than I originally thought. The imagery of England conquering the Indian subcontinent mirrored Anne’s (perhaps unintentional) conquest of a girl at a significant disadvantage in the time period, and Anne’s lust for life in all its forms led to a casual disregard for others risk tolerance and vulnerabilities (as evidenced by the “dual demerit” system Raine spoke of). As hard it was for Anne she was a person of privilege in this relationship. The afterword is a must read but did nothing for my fondness for the real life Lister, particularly when she moved on to other lovers but was just fine trying to get dibs on Raines money. Lots of gaslighting at the end and I just feel tormented. Good book but I feel rather ill over it all. 
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