Reviews with content warning for Violence - Long Bright River

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Long Bright River by Liz Moore

33 reviews

mikaylapeterson's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

What a heart wrenching story. The characters are very well developed. Going to be thinking about this one for awhile

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gwalt118's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

After reading Moore's newest novel, I immediately wanted to read Long Bright River. Then I learned it made Obama's "Best of 2020" List and the title comes from a Tennyson poem, and I was even more intrigued. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed.

This novel is a meaningful exploration of the narcotic abuse crisis in America through the story of two sisters - one who becomes a cop and one who becomes addicted to hard drugs. Mickey and Kasey carry the traumas of their childhood very differently, and they make vastly different choices because of those traumas. Yet, Moore writes this novel in a way that creates empathy in the reader for both sisters and their choices.

Long Bright River is a lengthy book at almost 500 pages, but it moves quickly with short chapters and a fast-paced plot. The element of mystery and the various possibilities for the perpetrator kept me engaged. I started to doubt everyone, believing that the people who were initially portrayed as good might be bad and vice versa. I questioned every character.

I loved the way Moore breathed life into Philadelphia. Some of the descriptions reminded me of Cincinnati, and what it means to live in and love a city that has profoundly different neighborhoods and people. It's a complicated and beautiful sort of relationship, similar to the one that Mickey and Kasey have with each other.

If you have read this novel and you want to talk about the ending, let me know. That's all I'll say about that.

I cannot emphasize enough the compassion and understanding this book created in me. This is one of those novels that reminds me of that particular benefit of reading. I truly believe it makes all of us better people, and this novel is a perfect example of that.

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mndscranton's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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rg_125's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.75

The main character was so fixated on her sad circumstances growing up that she couldn't focus on being good at her job. She didn't seem to have any street smarts or the instincts needed to solve crimes. I found her pretty unlikeable, even as I was sympathizing with her sad circumstances.

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