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greatexpectations77's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Stalking, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia, Terminal illness, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
booksandbabble's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness and Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment
vannahcabana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content and Dementia
silverhill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
katisreading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
ornery_librarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
kcrockford's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Graphic: Chronic illness, Violence, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexism
laurenabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I’ll be brief, but The Spectacular is quality historical fiction with a strong female lead. While some parts are predictable and its villain is based on a real criminal (so a quick Google might spoil the ending), I enjoyed the glitz and glamor of Radio City in the 50s. Marion is a compelling protagonist, and Fiona Davis does a wonderful job of being true to the era while showing that women were breaking molds and being true to themselves.
I think this book is, at its core, about following your dreams and not allowing convention or tradition to stifle creativity and innovation. More importantly, it’s about the sad truth that most women, but especially women of that time, had to chose between lives of stability and lives of self expression.
My sincerest hope is that books like this remind women that it’s okay to shrug off expectations for desires, and it’s also okay to be frustrated at having to trade a sense of independence and individuality for “safe” life in the suburbs. Marion serves as a great example that “having it all” might look different for different people.
And as they say, you can have it all, but not at the same time…
Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Forced institutionalization
cc_shelflove's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Alcohol
Minor: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Car accident, and Gaslighting
growintogardens's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment