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yarm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Murder and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism
m_a_j's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse
madamelacy'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? Yes
5.0
Highly recommend this book. This is the first John Boyne I’ve read but won’t be my last. Boyne appeared on radio 4’s Open Book, talking about this book. It’s well worth a listen.
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Infidelity, Racial slurs, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Vomit
allegrabelle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
I have a massive issue with the author using violent Nazi history as a fun part of the character's development. It is only for the shock value and adds very little to the overl plot.
The writing style is awful. They say men who write women focus on their unattainable looks. I would say that Boyne does the same thing with young men in a way which is nauseating to read, and entirely unrealistically.
Took me two days to read this book for book club and we never even met to discuss it it was so horrible.
There's nothing to take from this book nor is it even a fun beach read. All the characters felt forced and completely unrealistic. The relationships were so odd I could never buy into any of the plot.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Outing, and War
Avoidandy78's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Rape, Suicide, and Antisemitism