notthatcosta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The dialogue was particularly strong from the supporting townspeople, the opaqueness of which complemented the earnestness and pathos of the protagonist. I really got a good sense of his temperament, motivations and backstory, which is an achievement in a novella.
I appreciated the economy of the writing and how it created an air of tension and mystery whilst providing enough exposition to keep you in the story. It made me hungry for more, which is the mark of a good writer, especially of shorter books.
Moderate: Confinement, Sexism, Slavery, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gaslighting, and Vomit
emmagreenwood's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Excrement, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Misogyny, and Slavery
natgeographic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Moderate: Physical abuse, Death, Slavery, Sexism, and Child abuse
andrewhatesham's review against another edition
5.0
Minor: Vomit, Slavery, Child abuse, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, and Religious bigotry
wasabby's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Body horror, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, Torture, Vomit, Physical abuse, and Trafficking
wendell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was alright, the prose were lovely. I think my biggest problem is that the issue it wants to shed light on is framed almost only to feed the protagonist's conscience. It just all feels like a really morally easy saviour narrative, when the more difficult and more interesting story would take place inside the church.
Moderate: Slavery
chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, and Slavery
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Vomit, Excrement, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
alisonannk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Slavery, Sexism, Kidnapping, Vomit, Torture, Excrement, Cancer, Physical abuse, Classism, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy
thesapphiccelticbookworm'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? No
3.75
Graphic: Slavery and Religious bigotry
nicolaparty'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cursing and Slavery
It deals explicitly with Irish mother-and-baby homes and the cruelty and abuse inflicted towards the women and girls there. It presents a teenage mother whose baby has been taken from her. It also deals with the stigmatisation and shaming of single mothers in Ireland in the mid-20th century.