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madamelacy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Absolutely gripping story of a man driven by literary ambitions but short on original ideas. Maurice uses his good looks to entrance people with greater story telling talents than him, steals their words then discards them. The denouement is superb.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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 against another edition
fast-paced
- 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
Awful read - basically airplane fiction.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Outing, and War
Avoidchristinasingh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Also wrote 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' _ Irish writer
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Xenophobia