Reviews

Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan

mohginreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

ktfytz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

babygorgeous's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

Tremendous. Would read again

msgold's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

notesofacrocodile's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

There is no secret, Tom, or else there are hundreds of them, and none of them interesting enough for you. The secret is that we’re a family, we’re just an ordinary family, with ordinary unhappiness like yours.

such a thoughtful, painful little book. it definitely delivered on the premise, going through topics of ordinary unhappinesses such as the difficulties faced by irish immigrant families in england, especially when they're of a working class nature, a teenage pregnancy, alcohol abuse, loneliness, and the neglect of a child, amongst others. not to say they aren't terrible, just that they wouldn't be interesting enough for newspapers and the media, their unhappinesses too routine and frequently seen for it to hold any sustained attention. i really liked this novel and - dare i say - much more than acts of desperation; i do think however, that this is also due to the fact that dysfunctional families are one of those features of a plot/novel that really pull me in. the only thing i could not get on board with was the fact that some of the themes mentioned in the novel were not explored as well as they could have been, a longer length could have definitely helped this story's case for the better.

but i still really liked it, it's an interesting perspective into this subject.

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Child death

sourmilkpages's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

3.75

charlotte_b17's review against another edition

5.0

“The secret is that we’re a family, we’re just an ordinary family, with ordinary unhappiness like yours.”

elle_g's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

martinej's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5