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A review by renegadegrocerycart
The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A remarkable story about the conflicts of faith and devotion. Even knowing the end—having watched the 2022 film adaptation—it was still very tense. Emma Donoghue’s prose is well-suited to the fact-based, concise tone of the nurse main character, and details are used sparingly but to devastating effect.
Historically-speaking, this book has a lot to say about the relationship between the English and the Irish and the long-lasting effects of the Irish Potato Famine. It’s a fascinating read for that as much as the central plot.
Historically-speaking, this book has a lot to say about the relationship between the English and the Irish and the long-lasting effects of the Irish Potato Famine. It’s a fascinating read for that as much as the central plot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Chronic illness, Incest, Medical trauma, and Medical content