bella_mckinnon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Well written and a very engaging read. I related a lot to Helen's character, and her, plus her father Morris, became my favourites. However, partly due to my affinity for Helen, and mostly due to, I think, basic empathy, I found it really hard to read about Helen getting constantly I felt so much for her, and I did not enjoy the ending of the story that I feel very conflicted about the story because it was so well-written in my opinion, and I appreciated reading it. But I felt so much for Morris and especially Helen that the constant injustice they faced was hard to read. Gritty and real though. Tough read, but I'm glad I read it.
Spoiler
raped and/or sexually assaulted by the men in her life.Spoiler
suggested she might begin to trust Frank or rekindle a relationship with him in future, despite his constant harassments and assaults against her, and his generally immoral character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, and Antisemitism
noblememoruled's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
very good
love how malamud depicts how helen feels she has to be polite and courteous to men who bother her, and how those men feel entitled to her time and attention.
love how malamud depicts how helen feels she has to be polite and courteous to men who bother her, and how those men feel entitled to her time and attention.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
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