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maxgold's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death, Suicide, and Transphobia
laceystairs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
ceedy's review
- 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? No
4.25
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Deadnaming
electricshe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Some people don’t like the male narrator character, August, as they feel his perspective and character arc take away from the female voice, I guess. But I think he’s important. This part may get a bit spoilery, so stop here if you like. He is a useful contrast both to the women and the other more traditional men of the colony. Rather than feeling like his narration muddied the women’s voices, I felt like he creates a layer of removal from the women that is necessary for the reader to have—since we don’t know them, really—and views the proceedings with a sort of sacredness and deference. He also acts as a bridge for the reader to enter this world that many of us know little about, since he is something of an outsider himself.
You can see his constant thoughts about Ona, his relation of their asides, his overall meekness and awkwardness, and his odd anecdotes as all very off-putting. So that on one hand the women are contending with brutal and powerful men and on the other a pathetically self-pitying one. One wonders, when Ona has been raped, is pregnant, and is facing the very serious decision of whether to uproot herself from the only life she’s ever known, how she could possibly be entertaining this chemistry he feels between them. I don’t think she really is, personally. But maybe she is. Because these women—all women—have the capacity to be angry, to take action, to laugh despite horrors, to love even in hardship, and to be caring even when they themselves are in need of care. It doesn’t take away from her character if she does have affection for this man who, despite being odd, is not disparaging, patronising, cruel, or treacherous. He can’t help being the main character of his own life, he can’t help loving a woman who is good and kind. What I think is powerful about his position as the narrator of the story beyond all that is that he doesn’t matter. His own revelations and growth aren’t earth-shattering (or even revealed) to the women, and their story continues without him. Whether or not Ona loves him, her path is not about him.
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
eatyourphone's review
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence
sterlingreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
cpersin's review
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
thesaltiestlibrarian'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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cursing, Deadnaming, and Suicide
sunbathingturtle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Within the confines of a hayloft, Miriam Toews creates a deep ecosystem of life, social webs, shared history, thought, and—most importantly—characters that feel so very real.
I’m in awe of the format and storytelling of this book. Masterful craft.
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Excrement, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
rwinchesterm's review
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts