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sararo23's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness and Rape
pearlmijohns's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i did really enjoy reading this book, i got caught up in it and i really liked the (controversial) ending.
that being said i also thought that the portrayal of mental illness was stigmatising, & that the queer characters were presented in quite a homophobic and one dimensional way.
that being said i also thought that the portrayal of mental illness was stigmatising, & that the queer characters were presented in quite a homophobic and one dimensional way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Rape, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
mblny's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
pianokeys's review against another edition
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Medical content, and Abortion
booksbri's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
lethaltouch's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I personally thought that the world-building was great especially for being based in the 1950's. I enjoyed the plot and characters, in particular Howard. I was able to sympathise with most, if not all, characters and believed that they were complex in their own right and fleshed out. I also loved the mother-daughter relationships explored in the book and the differences shown.
Despite knowing that Margaret being a virgin birth was highly unlikely in logic (which ended up being proven true) I still hung on to every word and felt like there was a chance with all of the interactions. I thought that the journalistic side of it was written well in that sense.
Overall, I loved the style of writing and loved the book to the very last page.The ending was completely unexpected but I believe well thought out and set up nicely in the final chapter. Poor Howard, you were a real one.
Overall, I loved the style of writing and loved the book to the very last page.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
sho73's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
Average but not bad read
Though the ending was one of two outcomes I foresaw, and the origin of the baby being exactly what I imagined, it was ok
Issues like mental health and sexuality aren’t handled gracefully here, I wasn’t alive back in 1957 but enough of history documents how people seen as ‘other’ were treated to not have an issue with how it was portrayed
I liked the circularity of the story
Though the ending was one of two outcomes I foresaw, and the origin of the baby being exactly what I imagined, it was ok
Issues like mental health and sexuality aren’t handled gracefully here, I wasn’t alive back in 1957 but enough of history documents how people seen as ‘other’ were treated to not have an issue with how it was portrayed
I liked the circularity of the story
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
allisonz6's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Chronic illness, Rape, and Medical content
Minor: Cancer
ottercorg's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- 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? No
3.0
As I work alphabetically through my TBR, based on what my local library has available, I can't seem to remember why I added this book to the list. I don't recall where I learned about it or what may have stood out to me, making me want to read it.
On top of that, it took me almost half the book to really get into the story. I almost gave up, until things started to get interesting between Jean and Howard. That's precisely what kept me reading - the true plot of the book itself was not particularly interesting to me.
All in all, I don't have much to say about this novel from Chambers. I give it 3 stars because I think it was well written, I enjoyed Jean as a character (in many ways I feel I can relate to her), and once I got into it I did enjoy it.
But I have to say I hate how everything resolved. I could not be more disappointed, on all accounts.
On top of that, it took me almost half the book to really get into the story. I almost gave up, until things started to get interesting between Jean and Howard. That's precisely what kept me reading - the true plot of the book itself was not particularly interesting to me.
All in all, I don't have much to say about this novel from Chambers. I give it 3 stars because I think it was well written, I enjoyed Jean as a character (in many ways I feel I can relate to her), and once I got into it I did enjoy it.
But I have to say I hate how everything resolved. I could not be more disappointed, on all accounts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, and Lesbophobia
marhuitre's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
I really liked the first half of the book, it was calm yet intriguing, and I wanted to know more about Gretchen. But after that, I just got mad. the lesbian storyline, which I was so happy about, got awful treatment, the rape-plot was so predictable from the start but didn’t get any resolution for the victim, and the end was so unnecessary
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Rape