Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Pearl by Siân Hughes

10 reviews

rei_reads's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

kodi_rae's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

A really interesting little book about loss, grief, and the questions you never really get answers to. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death of parent

Moderate: Child death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment

emlo's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

This is a beautifully written book about a girl growing up and trying to come to terms with the absence of her mother. The grief is poigniantly observed as is the way trauma can be passed through generations. It's also a meditation on motherhood and family. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death and Suicide

nialiversuch's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

notthatcosta's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.75

An achingly beautiful book that is one of the most visceral and resonant depictions of grief and loss I've seen represented in literature. The magical realist elements are incredibly wistful and beautiful, especially considering the 'real world' aspects are so...real. 

I would give this 5* but the quality dipped so much in chapters 11-13 that it almost ruined the book for me. I guess I just find bratty, angsty teenagers insufferable in any and every form and context.

Overall, one of the most impactful novels I've read in recent memory, and to know that the story was very much informed by Sian Hughes' own experiences and childhood makes it even more special.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Pregnancy

_vampiresquid's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Abandonment

christinahill's review against another edition

dark funny sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

corrina_milito's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child death and Suicide

emziesreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.75

I'm glad that the Booker longlisting of Pearl brought this Ali Smith-like meditation of the longlasting impact of grief. It's not the first book about an absent mother but it is one of the better ones. That being said, I'm not convinced that it is 1 of the 13 best books this year.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

abbyeck's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Eating disorder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis