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lilifane's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
What a book! I was totally unprepared for it. All I knew about it was mentioned in the first half of the first chapter. And the rest of the book took me completely by surprise.
It's dark and disturbing and heartbreaking and definitely thought-provoking. It shows that we don't really know what is going on inside the heads and lives of the people around us. Also, miscommunication and making assumptions based on prejudices can cause a lot of damage and heartache to a lot of people. Same as revenge or taking justice into one's own hands.
I needed to get used to the writing at the beginning first, but after reading on I realized how masterfully plotted this book is. (And I love well plotted books) There were some minor details I didn't like, and I think the ending is not as powerful as the rest of the story. But all in all, I was pretty impressed by the book.
It's dark and disturbing and heartbreaking and definitely thought-provoking. It shows that we don't really know what is going on inside the heads and lives of the people around us. Also, miscommunication and making assumptions based on prejudices can cause a lot of damage and heartache to a lot of people. Same as revenge or taking justice into one's own hands.
I needed to get used to the writing at the beginning first, but after reading on I realized how masterfully plotted this book is. (And I love well plotted books) There were some minor details I didn't like, and I think the ending is not as powerful as the rest of the story. But all in all, I was pretty impressed by the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
theleppy's review against another edition
I thought I could get passed the child death part but the age of the child coupled with animal cruelty I couldn't do it. I liked how the story was written but I was getting upset by those things and got the feeling it would go too far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child death
windsinger's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
stayshomeandreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
sasuke's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Animal death and Forced institutionalization
abbie_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Nadia @the.storygraph proving how well she knows my reading tastes by sending me this book! It's a dark and twisty translated thriller, with themes of motherhood running throughout - practically Nadia's own words, but such a good summary of Confessions! I kept texting her like oh my god, THIS just happened, and then five minutes later, oh my GOD, NOW THIS JUST HAPPENED. I literally said 'oh my god' out-loud at least three times in the first 100 pages. It's that kind of thriller, where the author just keeps dropping crazy twists until your mind is in knots!
.
All I'm giving you of the plot is that a plot for revenge is set off after the young daughter of a teacher is involved in an accident on school grounds. That's it, now you just have to read and be drawn into this intricate plot where everyone is hiding something. I don't read that many thrillers, so I did have to suspend my disbelief at times, but I don't have a problem with that! It's fiction, I'm happy to just be taken along for a wild ride, especially one that keeps me guessing. I loved the ending - usually I can put a book down to sleep even with only 20 pages left, but for Confessions I sacrificed a whole half hour of sleep just to finish it!
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The translator is Stephen Snyder, who has translated the two books by Yōko Ogawa I've read. I'm always super impressed with his translations, they always read so smoothly and never feel clunky or clumsy. The writing, for the most part, feels taut throughout which is exactly what you want from a thriller! You want writing which gets straight to the point, hooks you from the get-go and wastes no time getting down to the nitty-gritty..This book is perfect for October, delightfully disturbing, twisted, and very clever! But find someone who has read it or buddy read it so that you have someone to send your OMG texts to. 😉
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death
Minor: Animal death