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gasperyjacques's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Child death
beckydr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A child dies on a council estate in London and a journalist happens by the scene mere hours later. Deeply insightful and told from multiple perspectives, it hooked me with mystery and captivated me with fleshed-out characters who are explained so well through snippets that I felt like I knew them. This is not a mystery or thriller with a clear end, but excellent literary fiction that is suspenseful and intriguing.
I've been reading through the Women's Prize For Fiction longlist even though the winner is long announced and this is my third 5* read out of seven read; I like those odds and I really recommend adding the challenge on The Storygraph!
I've been reading through the Women's Prize For Fiction longlist even though the winner is long announced and this is my third 5* read out of seven read; I like those odds and I really recommend adding the challenge on The Storygraph!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Child death
marthaos's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a really well-written book, a story whose plot involves a tragedy outlined in the opening sequence, but which turns out to be much more than the procedural it is set up to be. It is a wonderful character study, a look at a time in social history that is bleak and rife with a sort of opportunism that thrives on judgment and cover-ups and where if a person is down, they are down.
The Greens move to London from Ireland in the eighties to escape the judgment and social castigation that a teenage pregnancy would bring. Carmel, young, beautiful and with an imagined future of success, has to sacrifice much of what she wanted for herself but despite the sacrifices, cannot give herself to motherhood fully, remaining detached and cold towards her child Lucy. Lucy is the ten-year-old in question accused and questioned about the tragedy involving Mia, and when reporter Tom gets hold of the story, we see how a family can be scapegoated for no reason other than their position in society.
Through wonderfully rich character portrayals and descriptions, we learn how a series of ordinary human failings can compound a family, how shame and secrecy can feed off each other and over time smother a family and stop any growth. As we learn about the various members, we see how alcoholism and addiction can burn deep, we see how dreams and hopes can be buried in a culture of shame and failure and ultimately how it takes an open and brave confrontation with truth to break the cycles that can keep a family bound.
While this was quite a dark book, it was nuanced in its tone. The characters were very believably portrayed; ordinary humans who were neither vilified nor deified but who were navigating this life as best they could.
Overall this was a rich and immersive read and the Green family will stay with me for a long time and the quality of writing made it an enriching and enjoyable listen.
The Greens move to London from Ireland in the eighties to escape the judgment and social castigation that a teenage pregnancy would bring. Carmel, young, beautiful and with an imagined future of success, has to sacrifice much of what she wanted for herself but despite the sacrifices, cannot give herself to motherhood fully, remaining detached and cold towards her child Lucy. Lucy is the ten-year-old in question accused and questioned about the tragedy involving Mia, and when reporter Tom gets hold of the story, we see how a family can be scapegoated for no reason other than their position in society.
Through wonderfully rich character portrayals and descriptions, we learn how a series of ordinary human failings can compound a family, how shame and secrecy can feed off each other and over time smother a family and stop any growth. As we learn about the various members, we see how alcoholism and addiction can burn deep, we see how dreams and hopes can be buried in a culture of shame and failure and ultimately how it takes an open and brave confrontation with truth to break the cycles that can keep a family bound.
While this was quite a dark book, it was nuanced in its tone. The characters were very believably portrayed; ordinary humans who were neither vilified nor deified but who were navigating this life as best they could.
Overall this was a rich and immersive read and the Green family will stay with me for a long time and the quality of writing made it an enriching and enjoyable listen.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
emlibe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
ncghammo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death and Abortion
alicroz34's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
I wish I spent more time writing down my favourite quotes, but I only clued in at the end how much I wanted to remember them. Here's two from the end:
She was trying to accept that she couldn't force her reactive honesty on others, couldn't speak into their silences for them.
She was trying to accept that she couldn't force her reactive honesty on others, couldn't speak into their silences for them.
The trying would be the life's work, they both understood this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Addiction and Child death
blubbflubbl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Abortion
booksillremember's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Well written character study, rich with images and reflections that are down to earth and understated like a lot of great Irish writing.
I didn’t connect with Tom’s chapters, him being a one-dimensional arsehole 99% of the time when everyone else was so much more complex. There are glimpses of complexity, but I’d either have liked more about his background or a lot less about him overall. Make him a function without POV or a fleshed out character, not something in between.
I didn’t connect with Tom’s chapters, him being a one-dimensional arsehole 99% of the time when everyone else was so much more complex. There are glimpses of complexity, but I’d either have liked more about his background or a lot less about him overall. Make him a function without POV or a fleshed out character, not something in between.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Abortion
Moderate: Child death
nessreadsalot's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Set in 1990, when a child is killed on a housing estate in London the finger is pointed at an Irish family.
This book takes us through the aftermath of the child's death and also back to tell the story of how the family came to London.
I loved this book, the despair and hopeless circumstances the family found themselves in were written so well and with such empathy.
The story of the child became almost incidental and faded to the background of the story of this family and I loved it.
This book takes us through the aftermath of the child's death and also back to tell the story of how the family came to London.
I loved this book, the despair and hopeless circumstances the family found themselves in were written so well and with such empathy.
The story of the child became almost incidental and faded to the background of the story of this family and I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
hegesteindal74's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Violence