liklak's review
4.5
This one is a real belter - I was immediately pulled in and barely put it down. Don't quite know why so many of the reviews call it "hilarious", though - it's definitely witty in parts, but I felt like crying almost the whole way through.
admatthews's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
Outstanding. The insularity of an early-90s Northern Irish village, and of a strict protestant family, is shattered by a mysterious and seemingly innocuous intrusion from the outside world. Each character is drawn with great nuance and empathy. Humour sits alongside awful grief, and the magic realist touches amplify the scope and humanity of the novel. The question over whether some of the victims are better off dead than alive is disturbingly unanswerable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
crystaljuan's review
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
3.75
The perspective of a child was unique and refreshing to read. I haven’t read a book deeply immersed in religion like this. I liked seeing how the different narratives were woven together at the end. But the final resolution was eh. Still recommend!
shukriabdullah's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
lornesausage10's review against another edition
4.0
The Raptures is set in a small Northern Irish, largely protestant village in the early 1990s. It follows the story of Hannah Adger, an 11-year-old girl who's classmates start falling ill with a mysterious virus and then dying quite painfully.
Hannah is a wee bit of an outcast. Her parents (mainly her dad) don't let her do anything. No music, no dancing, no reading Roald Dahl books and nothing that would let the devil take a foothold. They don't believe in dinosaurs either. Their church is never named so at first I thought they were Jehovah's Witnesses but as the book went on, it became a bit clearer they were probably Pentecostal or something like that.
That goes on to shape Hannah's destiny in a big way because she is the only child in her class who doesn't get sick.
I thought this was a brilliant book. The storytelling is excellent and it perfectly encapsulates religion, sectarianism and masculinity. It shows the trouble you can get yourself into if you don't talk about things - something of a pandemic in Northern Ireland.
The reason I didn't give this five stars was because I wasn't satisfied with the ending. Hannah is cured by some bonkers happy clappy healing? Nah. Wished there has been something a little more profound for her.
Hannah is a wee bit of an outcast. Her parents (mainly her dad) don't let her do anything. No music, no dancing, no reading Roald Dahl books and nothing that would let the devil take a foothold. They don't believe in dinosaurs either. Their church is never named so at first I thought they were Jehovah's Witnesses but as the book went on, it became a bit clearer they were probably Pentecostal or something like that.
That goes on to shape Hannah's destiny in a big way because she is the only child in her class who doesn't get sick.
I thought this was a brilliant book. The storytelling is excellent and it perfectly encapsulates religion, sectarianism and masculinity. It shows the trouble you can get yourself into if you don't talk about things - something of a pandemic in Northern Ireland.
The reason I didn't give this five stars was because I wasn't satisfied with the ending. Hannah is cured by some bonkers happy clappy healing? Nah. Wished there has been something a little more profound for her.
josaphina's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
leah_shearer's review
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
sebastian_arias_97's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.25
mimeticats's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
danoott's review
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I have had the pleasure to meet Jan Carson myself once. It was a pubquiz organised by my study association in the Netherlands. She was full of passion and it inspired me greatly. After meeting her I wanted to read this very book and I am glad I did so.
The book is written through the perspective of Hannah, a 11-year-old child. This approach to discussing difficult topics I find brilliant. Children do see the world differently and this often helps with making the theme of child death easier to digest. It does not make it less difficult to read about however. The book made me emotional, wanting to help the children but feeling helpless like Hannah herself.
As a nonbeliever I found it interesting to read through a believer’s perspective. I find it beautiful how some can find such hope in something invisible. I admire that. Carson brings to light the good and the bad about religion which I appreciate.
It is also refreshing to see a book through the perspective of the Protestants in Northern Ireland. I have rarely encountered this myself, mostly seeing media that shows the Catholic side of things. You can feel that this book has come from personal experiences in this kind of community. Ballylack feels both small and like it is supposed to represent something bigger. It is an art on itself to achieve such a thing.
Overall, I 100% recommend reading this book. Despite having predicted most of the plot points, the raptures is an inspiring book that will leave you emotional until the very end.
The book is written through the perspective of Hannah, a 11-year-old child. This approach to discussing difficult topics I find brilliant. Children do see the world differently and this often helps with making the theme of child death easier to digest. It does not make it less difficult to read about however. The book made me emotional, wanting to help the children but feeling helpless like Hannah herself.
As a nonbeliever I found it interesting to read through a believer’s perspective. I find it beautiful how some can find such hope in something invisible. I admire that. Carson brings to light the good and the bad about religion which I appreciate.
It is also refreshing to see a book through the perspective of the Protestants in Northern Ireland. I have rarely encountered this myself, mostly seeing media that shows the Catholic side of things. You can feel that this book has come from personal experiences in this kind of community. Ballylack feels both small and like it is supposed to represent something bigger. It is an art on itself to achieve such a thing.
Overall, I 100% recommend reading this book. Despite having predicted most of the plot points, the raptures is an inspiring book that will leave you emotional until the very end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child abuse