Reviews tagging 'Miscarriage'

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

72 reviews

kyraelisabeth's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

elanuruysal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

jasminelk7's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia

Minor: Cancer

bellarosereads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Incest, and Infidelity

Moderate: Miscarriage, Infertility, and Suicide

Minor: Terminal illness and Cancer

isabezza's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

I was recommended this book as "one to read in the sun" by a close friend who shares my interest in emotional, reflective reads. Miranda Cowley Heller writes a powerful monologue on motherhood and living with multiple forms of trauma. This novel is a difficult read, but one which inspires the importance of the people around us, and encourages us to question who we love and what we would do for them. 

Knowledge can be power, but it can also be poison. 

There is no such thing as unforgivable between people who love each other. But even as I'm thinking it, I know it's not really true. 

Although the ending of this book was a little underwhelming, this captures the nature of this book, demonstrating that whatever we do (or do not do), life continues. Set in a cycle of summers and the Paper Palace, we follow our protagonist as she describes her family, their flaws and losses; as she reflects on her traumatic past. 

I wonder if he would love me if he could see inside my head - the pettiness, the dirty linen of my thoughts, the terrible things I have done. 

 
I did not find this book as gripping, powerful, or 'lifechanging' as I had hoped, but would recommend to someone who enjoys a similar writing style. 

The passage of time bought only a messy tangle of branches, marking my failure to heal. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Child death

Moderate: Cancer, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Suicide, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity

bookasaurbri's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Incest, Child abuse, Abandonment, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Pregnancy, Murder, Miscarriage, Cancer, and Sexual assault

molroseh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Cancer, Miscarriage, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness

shofoho's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death

Minor: Child abuse, Terminal illness, and Miscarriage

bookmhale's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I have a lot of thoughts about this book. Some say the ending is confusing about who she chooses, but I feel like the choice is pretty clear. Be advised on triggers in this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Infidelity and Death

Minor: Miscarriage

chloealex's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Incest, Miscarriage, Rape, and Sexual assault