brittsbooknook's review against another edition
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Murder
Minor: Infidelity
bookerbride's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
Graphic: Violence, Abortion, Suicide, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Infidelity
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: War and Alcohol
junglejelly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The writing style is so easy to read and follow which helps with the slow pace of the novel.
The characters are the best part of the novel, I became very emotionally invested in them whether it was happiness or anger. These sets of families will not leave me for a long time.
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, Murder, Death, and Violence
Minor: War and Abortion
clemrain's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
The first three parts of the story were strong and I was eager to continue reading them. The fourth part is slow and, in my opinion, didn’t pay off well at a first glance. It’s because I just wanted to know the ending, and as it approached it just wasn’t what I wanted. However, I think in this book, that’s sort of the point.
The one major flaw of the story is
Spoiler
Cathy’s suicide. Just doesn’t line up with her character. She had too much ambition and plan. I’m not sure why the pressures and her son’s outburst could’ve led her to that.The depth of the novel is fun to sit on and think about. I don’t see a strong agenda in the writing. Just a few different perspectives. At the end of the day, no matter what we believe we’re all just gonna die. Good point.
Maybe some takes in this books might be sour to some. Like comparing the church to brothels. But nothing felt too outrageous to me.
I’m not sure why every female character had to have her chest detailed so much. Nevertheless, those female characters are strong and complicated. And I enjoyed their writing. None of the female characters were too alike which sometimes is a huge problem in classics.
The biblical analogies are really strong. And I enjoyed the conversations characters had regarding them.
Overall, a long read but an accessible one.
Graphic: Abortion and Animal death
Moderate: Hate crime, Medical content, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Classism, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual content, War, and Xenophobia
suburbanorchard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Murder, and Pregnancy
tdap1899's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Racial slurs, Suicide, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, and War
Minor: Gun violence, Pregnancy, Abortion, Terminal illness, and Fire/Fire injury
ethrbo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Racial slurs
meleequeen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
edgario's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Great quotes, slow start, classic,bell5a_xox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abortion, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Toxic relationship