Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall

34 reviews

drexrode's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Sexism, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

capricaandrea's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

tyreadsbooks_'s review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

"𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴, 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯." 

✦ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 :

•fiction inspired by true stories 

•women’s rights

•1970s historical fiction 

•long lost letters

•multiple timelines & povs 

•strong female characters 

•Canadian setting

•mothers & daughters

✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 :

3 women’s voices, 3 timelines, 3 separate stories that intertwine in the most beautiful way.

This book had everything I look for in a 5 star read - well written characters, atmospheric writing, perfectly executed plot twists, the weaving of fiction with well researched historical facts, plus emotions that jump right off the page into your heart.

Yes, this book is heavy. But I think it’s so timely. It's about the many aspects of motherhood, women supporting women, & ultimately, choice. The right to choose what you share about your past, what you do with your present.

𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 is an impressive debut that l absolutely recommend. Books like this one are the reason why I love historical fiction.

(Full disclosure - I was very apprehensive about reading this book, just because of my own personal experiences. There are some highly sensitive topics explored here, but I felt it was done with grace & gentleness.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Pregnancy

tinkeringcheck's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad slow-paced

3.25

Read for a book club, and I while the prose is well-written and the story obviously resonates with many readers it just wasn't for me. Personally I found it quite heavy without much reprieve (mind the content warnings, they're graphic) and I didn't really feel like the main character voices were distinguishable from each other despite some strong side characters. Even when I started to get sucked in, a few last minute twists and left-field character beats shook me out of the story again. I'm looking at you, future Nancy storyline.

I also feel bad saying this, but I'm not a big fan of books that feel like they were written mainly to Educate the Reader instead of tell a story. I might have bounced off because I know too much about the abortion rights movement in Canada already, but I'm glad this book is making that history more accessible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Vomit

Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders

modryzamek's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

corig93's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Abortion

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Miscarriage, Grief, and Pregnancy

catarina_pego's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Pregnancy

jaklindberg's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

raisavibes's review

emotional informative inspiring reflective 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? N/A

4.5

If I didn’t read this book, I would have never learnt about the postwar maternity homes and forced adoption mandate. This story will take you on an emotional ride through motherhood and understand the importance of your right to want to be a mother. Every child a wanted child.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Abandonment

Includes a great cause that you could help with!

maddiela's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Abortion

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Child death