Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey

4 reviews

raidingkvatch's review against another edition

funny mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Islamophobia, and Murder

Minor: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Suicide, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

_inge's review against another edition

dark mysterious

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

There’s a lot to like about this. I really liked the writing style, for one; it was really readable, getting the tone of a kid right without being condescending. I loved passages where Miv’s background shone through;

for instance when she’s wondering why her Muslim friends aren’t at church, and she’s genuinely confused.

But wow, I once again really don’t get the marketing for this. Quotes on the cover read ‘To read it is to feel a bit better about life’. ‘Heart-warming’. Really?

A serial killer targeting women (and women being afraid they won’t be taken seriously), domestic violence and abuse, a literal child falling to her death because of racist/facist kids, another kid committing suicide because he’s clearly autistic and can’t cope with life, and you write that? 

I went in thinking this was cozy crime, because of these comments, so I was surprised it turned out to be this dark. 

The ending soured my experience reading this too.

Sharon did not have to die for this to be impactful. I didn’t mourn her, instead I just thought: ‘really?’. It also means we don’t get closure; did she know about Ruby and Miv’s dad? Is that why she at times was more withdrawn? I don’t think this is a point to be made about grief; Miv won’t know, so we don’t either, but instead it feels like a cover-up for plotholes or elements of the story which were later erased. Towards the ends it’s also revealed Miv’s mum was likely attacked too, which adds nothing - it doesn’t change her depression or makes it more ‘valid’ (although that’s maybe what this book wants you to think), and because she doesn’t even know if it was him you’re left guessing at its importance.

I had a good time reading this, and would recommend it to others. It’s a great study in how to write kids/early teens as well. The ending just didn’t really feel right to me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

emilyandthewhippet's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

I rarely cry when reading but I sobbed at the ending.

Throughout the story I just wanted to hold Miv and tell her that everything would be okay. It was mysterious and even knowing of the Yorkshire ripper, I was still left wondering what would happen next throughout the story. The ending was somewhat predictable but I'm always able to work out where books are going so maybe it wouldn't be for others. Even with this in mind though, the twist was still very hard hitting.
Definitely one of the best books I've read this year, out of almost 60 books so far.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Gaslighting

gemloukay's review

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Having grown up in Yorkshire in the early 1980s, this book encapsulates the era and the area perfectly. I particularly enjoyed the “Thatcher milk snatcher” comments that still get bandied about today, and the references to a couple of real landmarks in Dewsbury. 

The story mainly follows Miv, a 11 year old girl (at the start) who decides that she’s going to note down anyone that she thinks is suspicious and therefore could be the Yorkshire Ripper who is in the loose and she believes might lead to her family moving away to escape the danger. What Miv actually achieves is to give us a naive insight into the lives of everyone around her and their everyday struggles. Because we can understand what she does not, it softens the blow of all the tragedy and pain that everyone is going through. 

The way that school is for Miv and how the teachers talk to her and her friends, the casual (at best) racism that is everywhere and the attitude of looking the other way when people are struggling that are still apparent in some ways even today. But also the strong sense of community and how they all pull together when someone is actually asking for help. It really does showcase the worst and best aspects perfectly. 

It’s a cleverly written coming of age story told mainly from Miv’s POV but occasionally interspersed by a chapter from Mr Bashir the shopkeeper, Helen the Librarian, Arthur the rag and bone man and Miv’s dad Austin. Everyone feels well fleshed out and with their own personality and take on things. And unlike the book that Miv’s friend, Paul, is reading part way through (a Kestrel for A Knave), it has an enduring feeling of hope against all odds.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide

Minor: Alcoholism, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting